Vieste

Vieste is the most important and famous tourist destination of Eastern Gargano.

The 19th and 20th century part of the city extend in the flat part of the peninsula, while the medieval borough lies on a rocky promontory. The latter is characterized by narrow and oblique streets, staircase alleys, houses built on the rock and buttresses arches, which sometimes join two houses from above with the typical external stairs (mignali).

Vieste is an ancient naval, agriculture and tourism centre. All along the coastline there are a number of campsites and hotels, which can host thousands of guests, giving them the opportunity to spend their holidays in a peaceful way.



Furthermore, the territory of Vieste provides to all windsurf practitioners a chance to spend some amazing time. In fact, due to its position quite advanced in the sea, this area is subject to intense winds.

Along the south coast you can visit the beautiful sea caves, with their mysterious names and stories.

Finally, you can join one of the daily motorboat tours, which give visitors the opportunity to plunge into the pristine nature. You will do in the company of well-prepared and experienced guides.

Historical Hints

City of ancient origins, it is believed that the humans were present throughout the territory since Paleolithic.
In fact, the habitat has always been ideal: mild climate, sources of drinking water, land full of orchards, plenty of wild and migratory game and, all along the coast, a wide variety of fishes.

Vieste was a Greek colony and Roman municipality: historians identify it as the ancient Apeneste, which can be translated as isolated refuge. The Greeks spent long winters there, living in isolation from their families and their land.

Oral history tells that Vieste was once united to the cities of Uria and Merino, of which the latter was destroyed around the 10th century AD.

In the Middle Ages Vieste was contended among Byzantines, Normans, Longobards, Venetians and Arabs. Because of its strategic position, throughout the history there has been many assaults by the Saracens: 1480, 1554, 1674 and 1678.

Particularly tragic for the memory of this city was the invasion of the pirate Dragut in 1554, during which about 5000 inhabitants lost their lives. They were all beheaded near the cathedral on a stone, which there since has been called the Chianca amara (bitter stone).

Another important milestone for the city of Vieste was the unification of Italy in the 19th century, during the so-called Risorgimento (Resurgence). During these years, many secret societies cooperating against the running monarchies (the Bourbons) come into existence. These noblemen, feeling threatened by the increasing participation of the villains the cause of Unity and their support to the to-be king of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele I, started to persecute, murder and condemn to prison the inhabitants of Vieste.

On 27th July 1861 there was a bloody clash between a group of Bourbon supporters and a one of local citizens supporting the Unity of Italy, many of which paid with their own lives for their participation.  

if you are going to visit the city, you should definitely stay in a hotel Vieste to make the best of it.

Choose the hotel that suits you best for your vacations.