Gargano, Peninsula and national park in Apulia, Italy
The Gargano is a mountain massif jutting into the Adriatic Sea in the southeastern region of Apulia, Italy. Limestone cliffs alternate with sheltered coves, while dense woodland covers large parts of the inland hills and several coastal towns with narrow lanes sit by the water.
In earlier centuries, this area was marked by dense woodland that shielded the peninsula from the rest of the region and led to a certain isolation. Pilgrims later sought out the cave on one of the mountains, which grew into an important religious destination.
Wooden fishing structures called trabucchi extend from the shoreline at several points, built in earlier generations to lower nets into the water below. Some now serve as restaurants or stand simply as testimony to older fishing methods along the coast.
Several hiking trails wind through the area, linking smaller towns along the coast with forested hills inland. The routes work well for day trips, though midday hours in summer can be hot.
The limestone has formed underground caves over a long time, extending beneath the forests and hills. One of these caverns has served as a pilgrimage site since the early medieval period, carved into the rock at around 2,600 feet (800 meters) elevation.
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