The tour starts in one of the Gargano area’s most scenic places, the history of which is tied to the history of the San Matteo Sanctuary, located along the Longobardorum pilgrimage route, which was dotted with refuges and prayer sites for the pilgrims on their way to the Sacred Cave of the Archangel Michael. You start in San Marco in Lamis, where nearby, the Montenero Cave is located, one of the Gargano area’s deepest natural formations of this kind, about 100 metres deep. At the Borgo Celano Visitors’ Centre you will study the karst phenomena and take an in-depth look at palaeontology. Your next stop is the city of San Severo, where you will visit the Museum of the High Tavoliere, hosting many archaeological artefacts spanning a time period from prehistory to Roman times, and which also hosts a paintings gallery. You will also visit the beautiful Marian Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of Succour, with its baroque style. You will then move on to Apricena, for a visit of the historic city centre and its Palazzo Baronale, San Martino church, Chiesa Matrice church and the Palazzo della Cultura. You will also visit the Castelpagano archaeological park, the Cima Cardalicchio natural reserve, the San Nazario wetlands and the karstic environment of the Pozzatina sinkhole.
Type
Walking
Type of itinerary
History, religion, arts and nature tour
Target of reference
Primary Schools Secondary Schools
Best time to organise your trip
March - April - May - June - September - October
Duration
One day
Accessibility
Partially accessible
The San Matteo Convent is accessible except for its upper section. The Borgo Celano Visitors’ Centre is completely accessible, with booths and restrooms for differently abled visitors. The whole Museum structure of the Mat is accessible to differently abled visitors thanks to a stairlift platform; the museum’s catalogue has been made available in Braille thanks to collaboration with Foggia’s branch of the Italian association for the blind; audioguides are available; guided tours and experimental educational workshops for the blind are available if booked in advance. Palazzo Paolicelli and Apricena are accessible. Audioguides, a municipal vehicle and rental wheelchairs are available.
Useful informations
We reccomend wearing comfortable clothing, tennis shoes, a cap to protect from harmful sun rays and a pocket rain jacket. Bring bottled water; We recommend bringing a camera.
Sources: Progetto Interregionale di Sviluppo Turistico - Valorizzazione del turismo Scolastico e Giovanile - Iris Soc. Coop. Updated on: 17/05/2011
Project created in collaboration with InnovaPuglia.
Regione Puglia
Regione Puglia