Typified by extremely varied scenery, the area of the Province of Foggia is still known by its medieval name of Capitanata, after the Byzantine governors, the "catapani", who administered it on behalf of Constantinople until almost the twelfth century. Its large territory stretches from the Gargano promontory -including the splendid Tremiti archipelago that faces it from the north - to the gentle slopes of the Sub-Apennine Dauno and to the extreme southern stretch of the Tavoliere. Inhabited since the Palaeolithic era and the cradle of ancient civilisation, it has always been the destination of travellers and pilgrims following the old holy routes. The Province of Foggia still has innumerable remains of its past -including prehistoric and Roman settlements, Greek and Swabian monuments, turreted cities and minuscule medieval villages clinging to hill or cliff sides - offering the visitor an original route combining natural scenery and history. The economy of the province, essentially linked to agriculture, in the last few decades has experienced a conspicuous development in the food sector and, above all, in tourism. The Foggia area, in fact, can boast very appealing attractions, such as the Tremiti Isles, the Gargano (its territory protected since 1991, by the National Park of the same name), with its splendid coastline and its picturesque villages-both inland, Ischitella, Vico del Gargano, San Marco in Lamis, Rignano Garganico, and on the sea, Peschici, Vieste, Rodi Garganico, Mattinata, Manfredonia -, and finally, places dear to religious tourism, especially Monte Sant'Angelo and San Giovanni Rotondo, a favourite destination of the devout pilgrims from all over the world.
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FOGGIA
