Gargano
A mountainous, rugged promontory jutting into the Adriatic Sea, the Gargano peninsula covers an area approximately 40 miles long by 25 miles wide, and is an 'island of nature' on the east coast of Italy in the Foggia province, Puglia. Its capital, Vieste, is a pretty medieval town that gets incredibly busy in the summer.
Now a protected area comprising forests, lagoons and sandy beaches, the vast majority of the region is a huge (15,000 hectare) National Park with fascinating scenery in plentiful supply. The Foresta Umbra or ‘Forest of Shadows’ is a beautiful blanket of Aleppo pine, oak and beech. Olive plantations, lemon and orange orchards, lakes, and large sandy shores can be found in abundance in the surrounding vicinity.
There are also many towns to visit in the area, each has something different to offer. Manfredonia, Mattinata, Vieste and Rodi Garganico can be found along the coast and inland, Carpino, Rignano, Cagnano Garganico, and Sannicandro are well worth a visit.