Manfredonia

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Manfredonia municipality is at the centre of Gargano gulf and half of it is within the Gargano National Park.
The town was initially founded by the Dauni from Illyria who settled in the area of Siponto, later conquered by the Romans. After the 1223 earthquake, the area of Siponto gradually turned into an unsalubrious marsh and Manfredi, the son of Frederick II, relocated the original ruins of Siponto a few kilometres further North, and designed an urban centre bearing his name to this very day.
Manfredi also commissioned the Castello di Manfredonia, whose construction was finished by the Angevins who conquered the town after killing Manfredi in the Battle of Benevento. The Angevins attempted a new line by baptizing the town Nuova Siponto, but the name never stuck. In 1620, Manfredonia was attacked and razed to the ground by the Turks. The Castle and walls were the only remaining parts and Manfredonia’s recovery was long and slow. It was not until 1800 when its people could enjoy a new period of prosperity.

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Manfredonia offers its visitors a wide variety of sights, ranging from the natural beauties of the Gargano National Park to uncontaminated depths of brilliantly clear water, to exhibits and historical fragments in the town centre of great cultural, historical and artistic interest. The Castello di Manfredonia, designed by Manfredi who oversaw the initial building work which was then continued by Charles I of Angiò and is now the National Museum; the Basilica minore of Santa Maria Maggiore of Siponto in the 13th century; S. Domenico church, with a nearby monastery which is now the town hall; the S. Leonardo in Lama Volara Abbey; the Cathedral dedicated to S. Lorenzo, bishop of Siponto, housing the icon of Madonna di Siponto; the wooden statue of Sipontina and Christ at the column.
Manfredonia combines culture and traditions of different origins and relating to the local way of life, to fishing, agriculture and sheep-breeding. Its narrow roads, lined by white painted houses, are where the fish market takes place, bringing in revenue for the town’s fish trade, third in Italy for number of boats. An unmissable event is the Sipontino Carnival, with its classic procession of allegorical carts, masks and folklore balls.