Santa Maria Maggiore di Siponto (source: Visual Puglia )
The church is situated about 3 km from Manfredonia and is an admirable example of Apulian Romanesque architecture, with Islamic and Armenian influences. The building is made up of two churches, one above the other. It has a square floor plan, with 18 mt. sides. The upper church is the actual Basilica. The foundation of the church dates from the Roman era in the first half of the 11th century. It was renovated extensively in the 13th century, changing the orientation of the church among other things. It was renovated again many times (the last in 1975), finished and beautified. The façade has an Apulian portal (dating from the end of the 1200s). It has been beautified with carvings, a projecting baldachin resting on two animal shapes and supported by two columns on lions. There are two false arches on the columns on either side of the portal, with a diamond shaped decorations. This is repeated on the right side of the church, interrupted by a semicircular apse spread over three false arches on chequered columns. The internal space (also renovated in 1975) is square. The area is delimited by four pillars, connected by gothic arches that support a diminished arch cupola, culminating in a lantern with eight arches. Around it is the quadrilateral ambulatory, three sides of which are decorated with primitive false arches, similar to churches in Armenia and Asia Minor. A magnificent paleochristian sarcophagus forms the top of the main altar. Above it is a copy of the Manfredonia Cathedral’s Madonna with child. An external staircase along the left side of the church leads to the lower basilica, which is as large as the upper one, divided by four hefty columns, corresponding to the columns of the cupola, and by 16 small columns, some ancient, with Roman capitals. To the left of the church, excavations have brought to light the remains of a paleochristian basilica with three naves, a semicircular apse and mosaic flooring.
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Daunia and Gargano territories offer a wide variety of scenarios: sweet hills in Fortore river valley, Daunian Apennine area and Ofanto river valley, Gargano national park, Tavoliere delle Puglie tableland and unpolluted Tremiti archipelago. Where endless wheat stretches rise and one can watch without seeing the horizon there is the Tavoliere, a witness of Foggia, San Severo and Cerignola the agricultural tradition. The greenest area in Apulia: Gargano National Park. It stands for its vegetation, ranging from forests to maquis. Five Tremiti islands are considered as veritable natural heavens. Sea beds, caves and erosions carved by the waves and winds represent overpowering attractions for scuba divers and sea lovers.
St. Mary of the Graces and the Capuchin Monastery - San Giovanni Rotondo
Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Stignano - San Marco in Lamis
Tremiti Archipelago in north of Gargano National Park. Two of the islands have been populated since antiquity and the wonderful natural scenario they are in is enriched by the several stories and legends which have been passed over for centuries now, showing the tight connection between islanders, sea and nature
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Gargano National Park covers the whole homonymous cape and also includes Tremiti Islan archipelago. In this park there are several rare protected habitats such as Foresta Umbra ('Umbrian forest'), the last existing sample of a vegetation characterizing most of Mediterranean area during prehistory
Daunia, ancient Capitanata region, includes the Preappennines, the Apulian Tavoliere and Gargano. Its landscape is extremely diverse and ranges from the green of inland parks and forests to the yellow of wheat in the Tavoliere, to the blue of sea water in contrast with coastal white cliffs.
Project created in collaboration with InnovaPuglia.
Regione Puglia
Regione Puglia