Monte Gargano

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Gargano landscape.

Monte Gargano is a mountain in Apulia, Italy forming the backbone of the peninsula Promontorio del Gargano on the Adriatic Sea. Most of the upland area, about 1,211.18 km² above the development along the coasts and in the lower valleys, is now a national park, Parco nazionale del Gargano, formed in 1995. It is administratively part of the Province of Foggia.

Monte Gargano is the site of the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to the archangel Michael, Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano.

Gargano is a peninsula partly mountainous and partly covered by the remains of an ancient forest, Foresta Umbra, the only remaining part in Italy of the ancient oak and beech forest that once covered much of Central Europe as well as the Appenine deciduous montane forests biome.

The coast of Gargano is rich in beaches and tourist facilities. In the north are two major salt lakes Lesina and Varano.