Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CAMPING IN STYLE
If your experience of camping is the scout version of flapping tents, freezing nights and eating cold
baked beans out of a tin, you will be delighted at the five-star quality of the typical campsites in this
southern region of Italy. They are also prolific, particularly in and around the national parks. In the
Gargano region alone there are an astonishing 100 campsites, compared to the relatively modest num-
ber of
pensioni
and hotels. If you don't fancy sleeping under canvas (or need a plug for those heated
rollers) then consider a bungalow rental.
Virtually all these camping
villaggios
(villages) include well-furnished and equipped bungalows.
This means you can really economise on eating out, as well as having the advantages of the campsite
facilities, which often include tennis courts, a swimming pool, a children's playground and small su-
permarket. Bungalows (normally only available for week-long rentals) start from around €200/500
(low/high season) for a two-person bungalow or mobile-home rental. Traditional under-canvas
campers can expect to pay a daily rate of approximately €15/25 (winter/summer), which includes
camping for two people, tent and car parking space.
Check the following websites for more information and camping listings:
www.camping.it
;
Vieste
POP 13,900
Vieste is an attractive whitewashed town jutting off the Gargano's easternmost promon-
tory into the Adriatic Sea. It's the Gargano capital and sits above the area's most spectacu-
lar beach, a gleaming wide strip backed by sheer white cliffs and overshadowed by the
towering rock monolith,
Scoglio di Pizzomunno
. It's packed in summer and ghostly quiet in
winter.
Sights
Vieste is primarily a beach resort, though the steep alleys of the old town make for an at-
mospheric wander. The
castle
built by Frederick II is occupied by the military and closed
to the public.
Chianca Amara
(Bitter Stone; Via Cimaglia)
Vieste's most gruesome sight is this stone where thousands were
beheaded when Turks sacked Vieste in the 16th century.
HISTORIC SITE
Museo Malacologico
MUSEUM
