Things to do in Vieste
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Pizzomunno
Pizzomunno, the unmistakable white rocky tower jutting out of the sea as you approach Vieste from the south, is a natural landmark with a tale to tell. If legend is to be believed, underneath that hard rocky exterior lies the heart of a romantic.
Pizzomunno, so the story goes, was a humble fisherman in love with the beautiful Cristalda. Jealous sirens, unable to tempt him with their wily charms, dragged Cristalda to the bottom of the sea and turned the heartbroken Pizzomunno into a rock. But the sirens weren't completely wicked. Every 100 years the rock breaks free and the lovers are reunited for one wild night.
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La Ripa
Near the Chianca Amara, this family-run restaurant in a converted stable has lots of character - and plenty of half-melted candles that would do a goth proud. The meat and vegetables are home-grown and organic (as is the podolico cheese). For a pasta mouthful try the foglie d'ulivo con gamberi, rucola, ricotta e julienne di zucchini (olive-leaf shaped pasta with prawns, zucchini and rocket).
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La Salata
At 9km north of town, off the SP52 towards the Hotel Gabbiano Beach, is a palaeochristian graveyard dating from the 4th to the 6th centuries AD, La Salata. The cave burial chambers are found in marshland close to the sea, in an area dense with typical Mediterranean maquis. Inside the caves tier upon tier of narrow tombs are cut into the rock wall; others form shallow niches in the cave floor.
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Via Carlo Mafrolla
Vieste is primarily a beach resort and has only a few sights of interest located in the winding medieval streets of the historic centre. From the Chiesa di San Francesco (a former monastery, closed for restoration) at the tip of the promontory walk up Via Carlo Mafrolla where boutique craftshops selling ceramics and local handicrafts have replaced hippy market stalls.
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Al Cantinone
Run by a charming Italian-Spanish couple who have a passion for cooking; the food is exceptional and exquisitely presented. Try the asparagus risotto or penne with fave beans, potatoes and pecorino cheese. Out of the approximate 100 restaurants in town, this is one of the 15 or so that stays open all year – hooray!
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Marine Caves
You can cave-hop on a two-hour boat trip to the Gargano's fabulous marine caves. Tickets are available at the port kiosks. The boats follow the craggy coastline south to Mattinata so you can scope out the Gargano's best beaches. Before booking consider the environmental impact of fast boats and splashback on the fragile limestone caves.
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Al Dragone
Colourful palaeolithic pieces from local artist, Circiello add a distinctly stone-age touch to this intimate cave restaurant. The chef uses local seasonal products with an innovative twist. A recommended dish is orecchiette con cime di rape e acciughe rosse washed down with a bottle of Puglian wine.
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L’Incontro
A funky bar whose name, The Encounter promises a fun night out or at least an interesting time puzzling over the symbolic artwork and stitched-iron plates in the back room. Has a legendary aperitivo - after 11:00 a complimentary plate of homemade hors d'oeuvres is served with your drink.
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Al Duomo
Tucked away in a narrow alley in the heart of the old town, this restaurant has a cosy cave interior and outdoor seating under a shady arbour. Home-made pastas with seafood sauces feature prominently. Try the cavatelli con ceci polipetti e rughetta (pasta with chickpeas, octopus and rocket).
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Pelikano
Opening directly onto Vieste's main beach, this restaurant is beach-chic at its best. Cane chairs, wooden tables and palm trees on the beachfront gives a Polynesian feel but the cuisine is typical Pugliese with fresh seafood and homemade pasta dishes. Also has an extensive pizza menu.
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Osteria degli Angeli
Tucked away on an arched alley, is this friendly restaurant, offering great cooking in a stone-vaulted interior. Try the troccoli dell’angeli (pasta with prawns) or parmigiana di melanzane (baked aubergine with mozzarella).
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Southern Beaches
There's plenty of sun and sand for beach worshippers. The best beaches, such as Baia di San Felice and Baia di Campi, are south of Vieste. The beaches are lined with lidos where you can hire umbrellas, sun-beds, canoes and pedalos.
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Box 19
You might feel like a fish in a tank dining in a box on the street but Box 19 is renowned for its excellent seafood. Tuck into a plate of linguine all'astice (linguine with lobster) while the crowds surge around you.
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Enoteca Vesta
Housed in a cool, vaulted cave, you can savour a magnificent selection of Puglian wines here to accompany innovative dishes like fried stuffed anchovies with cheese and eggs and baked grey mullet with wild fennel.
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Gelateria Sottozero
Dawdle over a coffee or prosecco while checking out the chic-elite in town but don't leave without indulging in the best ice cream in Vieste. For a rich, fat, chocolate fix drown in the amarena.
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Gargano Bike Holidays
Gargano Bike Holidays specialise in cultural and scenic mountain-bike tours, exploring the Gargano on half-day to weekly trips. The itineraries are graded from easy to difficult and the guides are multilingual.
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Cathedral
Built by the Normans on the ruins of a Vesta temple, the cathedral is in Puglian-Romanesque style with a fanciful tower that resembles a cardinal’s hat. It was rebuilt in 1800.
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Explora Gargano
To get off the beach for a day or two, take one of the many tours on offer. As well as hiking and mountain biking in the Foresta Umbra, Explora Gargano offers quad tours and jeep safaris.
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Vecchia Vieste
A cosy stone-vaulted interior equals a cosy setting for dining on reliably good local dishes like orecchiette, cozze e rucula (‘little ears’ pasta with mussels and rocket).
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Museo Malacologico
The Museo Malacologico has three rooms of fossils and molluscs (shells), some enormous and all beautifully patterned and coloured. Prices start at a reasonable €3.
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Agenzia Sinergie
Francesca Toto from Agenzia Sinergie is a helpful and informative Guida Ufficiale del Parco Nazionale del Gargano (Official Guide of the Gargano National Park).
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Chianca Amara
The most gruesome of the handful of sights in Vieste is the Chianca Amara, where thousands were beheaded when Turks sacked Vieste in the 16th century.
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Castle
At the town's highest point is the castle built by Frederick II. It's now occupied by the military and closed to the public.
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Isole Tremiti
From May to September hop on one of the fast boats and day-trip it to the Isole Tremiti where you can learn to dive.
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Spiaggia del Castello
If you don't have your own transport, Spiaggia del Castello, of Pizzomunno fame, is an easily accessible beach.
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