Vico del Gargano
Vico del Gargano: A Look into the City
Hello everyone, today we will be discussing Vico del Gargano, a municipality with a population of 7246 located in the province of Foggia in Puglia, Italy. It is part of the Gargano National Park and the Gargano Mountain Community and is one of the "most beautiful villages in Italy".
The city is highly regarded for its natural beauty and tranquility. It offers a wide range of tourist activities, including two beach locations, San Menaio and Calenella, where one can enjoy the crystal-clear sea.
Physical Geography
Vico del Gargano extends over an area of 212.7 km² in the northeastern part of Gargano. The landscape of the territory ranges from beech and fir forests in the interior to Aleppo pine forests along the coast, to centuries-old olive groves and citrus orchards terraced along the coast. The geology is karst with numerous caves, including marine caves.
The municipality constitutes the heart of the Gargano National Park and includes vast stretches of the Umbra Forest in its area.
Seismicity
Being located in a region prone to seismic activity, the entire municipal territory of Vico del Gargano is classified as zone 2 (average seismicity) in the seismic classification of Italy.
History
Human presence dates back to the most remote antiquity of the Vico territory. The inhabited center of Vico del Gargano was founded by Schiavone mercenary soldiers who arrived from the eastern coasts of the Adriatic and settled near an Iron Age necropolis located on a hill called Tabor, mixing with the local residents in a fortified center called Vicus.
The town was founded in 970 AD by the Schiavone leader Sueripolo, who, in the service of the Byzantines or Otto I of Saxony, had driven the Saracen pirates out of Gargano, who had turned it into their den.
The first official document attesting to the presence of a "Castrum Vici" on Gargano dates back to 1113, when the area was part of the Norman Duchy of Apulia and Calabria. Frederick II of Swabia enlarged the fortress in 1240. During the feudal period, Vico was owned by the most important Neapolitan families, including the Caracciolo and Spinelli families. In 1646, the disastrous earthquake in Gargano caused serious material damage, especially to the convent of the Minor Capuchin friars, in addition to the death of 40 citizens.
The Enlightenment brought a cultural renewal that culminated in the foundation of the famous Academy of the Excited Viciesi, the birth of Michelangelo Manicone, the raising of the Tree of Liberty, and the construction of the monumental cemetery of San Pietro extra moenia (one of the first in Europe).
Vico del Gargano still preserves its ancient and charming medieval architecture, and its history reflects the strong influence of the different cultures that have dominated the region.
The city has a welcoming population and a myriad of restaurants and shops that showcase the local production of high-quality food products. Residents are proud of their city and actively promote its places of interest.
Vico del Gargano occupies a special place in the hearts of those who visit, and anyone lucky enough to spend time here is sure to have unforgettable moments.
