Vieste is a town and commune in the province of Foggia, in the Apulia region of Italy. Vieste is the largest town on the mountainous Gargano peninsula in southern Italy, focused on the development of tourism due to its coastal location and the Foresta Umbra wilderness located in the mountains, only a dozen or so kilometers away. Vieste is famous for its historic old town located on a cliff, numerous beaches and bays, and a large number of hotels and campsites.
- Foresta Umbra. This is an area of about 150 km² located in the heart of the Gargano National Park. The name of this area probably comes from the Umbri – an ancient people inhabiting these areas or from the Italian word ombra meaning shadow, which refers to the dense and shady forest. The area of this area is divided into four zones, one of which is completely excluded from use. This area is the most characteristic part of the park with a large number of species of trees and shrubs. Among the trees, we can distinguish such as the common hornbeam, the European hop hornbeam, the small-leaved lime, the Italian maple, the sycamore maple, the Hungarian oak and species of elms. In this area, you can find monumental trees such as the 700-year-old Aleppo pine with a circumference of about 5 m or a beech with a diameter of 2 m and a height of about 40 m.
- Let’s start with Vieste, the most beautiful town of all the ones we visited on the peninsula. When you are on Gargano, this town is a must-see. A labyrinth of white streets, fantastic sunsets, proximity to sandy beaches and authenticity. Located at the very end of the Gargano Peninsula, the white town of Vieste has it all. Vieste is considered the informal capital of Gargano, located in the north of Puglia. Its historic center, the so-called Vieste Vecchia, is located on a picturesque cliff and a promontory jutting far out into the sea.
- The beach north of the historic city centre is San Lorenzo Beach, which is adjacent to the city port. The beach stretches for less than 1.5 km and is very wide – in some places it is almost 100 m wide. The beach is sandy and has a gentle descent to the sea, so it is ideal for families with small children. There are paid and free areas, bars, restaurants, showers, water equipment rentals, volleyball courts, games and aqua aerobics are organised, and everything is supervised by lifeguards and animators. In addition, during the holidays, the beach is cleaned daily.
- This beach was recommended to us by our hostess – Italian Marinella from the Relax Residence. It is a beautiful, large bay located a few kilometers north of Vieste. The Molinella beach itself is easily accessible by car.
- Hotel Sciali – a very nice hotel, where our friends slept. It is located a bit further from the center of Vieste, but it is much cheaper and has a high standard. The hotel is close to a private beach (300 m), offers parking, wifi and very good breakfasts. If you prefer an apartment with your own kitchen, choose accommodation in the annex next to the hotel.
- Camping. The camping village “VIESTE MARINA” is located on one of the most beautiful beaches of Gargano. It is located 5 km from Vieste, on the coastal road to Peschici. Heavily wooded with pine, tamarisk and acacia trees, it is the ideal place for a holiday. The village has brick apartments, bungalows and prefabricated houses, which are fully functional and have their own terrace. The campsite has 150 pitches, all in the shade, equipped with electricity, for tents, caravans and campers. Free health services and hot showers. Stop for camper vans.
