pugliauncovered

Between Vico del Gargano and Specchia the distance is 376 kms. Two villages at the extremeties of the region; one in the province of Foggia and the other in the heart of the Salento.

View of Vico

But in common they are both aspiring to recover the spontaneous architecture with inspiring projects to transform their abandoned houses at risk of disappearing altogether into tourist aparments. In contrast with other towns of italy, the villages of Puglia have a solid stone architectural foundation tied closely to its lands. Even though the houses may be simple, they have important characteristic star or barrel vaulted ceilings or ornamental portals.

Vico del Gargano, the city of love as it is also known, sits 445 metres above sea level, circling below are olive and orange trees and the door to the Umbra Forest yet only 8kms from the Adriatic. At first sight, it appears the poor relative of the other villages of Gargano with its air of decadence and abandoned houses, almost frozen in time. Rooms on the first floor housing the farm animals and those on the ground floor for habitable purposes, chimney pots notched into the roof top whilst in the cantina the spoils of hard labour are sheltered.

Vico del Gargano

Through the winding mini streets and alleyways of the old town, the Chiesa Matrice can be reached sat upon the hilltop, or that of San Giuseppe, the custodian of the statue of Christ. You may stumble upon the Vicolo del Bacio, an alley way situated in the historical town with restricted space of 50 cms in width and 30 metres in length, a lover's meeting place.