| Vico del Gargano | |
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| — Comune — | |
| Comune di Vico del Gargano | |
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Vico del Gargano
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Puglia |
| Province | Foggia (FG) |
| Frazioni | San Menaio |
| Area | |
| • Total | 110.53 km2 (42.7 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 462 m (1,516 ft) |
| Population (31 December 2003)[1] | |
| • Total | 8,032 |
| • Density | 72.7/km2 (188.2/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Vichesi |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 71018 |
| Dialing code | 0884 |
| Patron saint | Saint Valentine |
| Saint day | 14 February |
| Website | Official website |
Vico del Gargano is a town and comune in the province of Foggia in the Apulia region of southeast Italy. Called the "Village of Love", is part of the Gargano National Park and the Mountain Community of Gargano.
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The town is bordered by Carpino, Ischitella, Monte Sant'Angelo, Peschici, Rodi Garganico and Vieste.
The historical center of Vico del Gargano is a magnificent example of civic architecture that has been extraordinarily well preserved through the centuries. You can get maps of the city centre at the Information Point, in c.so Umberto 16. The map will guide you to many of the main attractions in Vico including Trappeto Maratea, the castle of Frederic the Second, della Bella Palace, and Vicolo del Bacio or ‘Alley of the Kiss’. But, as with all Italian hill-top towns you are meant to simply have a good wander through the narrow streets and arched passageways, discovering small public squares, shops and restaurants along the way. Visiting the city centre in the evening is especially magical as the city turns it’s spotlights on to the city walls, transforming it into shimmering tumble of medieval walls, terra-cotta rooftops, and locals on their evening strolls.
Vico del Gargano is also famous for the number of churches and chapels that comprise its historical centre and neighbourhoods. There are about thirteen of them in total. Many are very simple in design have been built for the purpose of local worship. The oldest church dates back to the 6th century and is called the Matrix Church or Chiesa Matrice. It is located near the historical centre of Vico and its red cupola dominates the city’s skyline. It houses the statue of the Patron Saint of the city, Saint Valentine; a statute which preserves the relics of the Saint. There are a number of festivals and events celebrating this Saint’s day. There are five more churches in the historical centre, including the Church of Saint Joseph, which holds a famous wooden sculpture of the dead Christ, used in processions on Good Friday. These five churches, among others, are centres of the Confraternite, an ancient Vichese tradition handed from generation to generation.
One unique phenomenon on the Garganic promontory is the carsismo, or springs, created by the erosive action of the water in the underground. Throughout the millennia caverns, tunnels, coves and springs have been created. Vico del Gargano is called `the city of 100 springs', because only in this region do the springs originate from within the land and aren’t confined to the coastal zones. Historically, the springs were the only water source for the population and they quickly became the place to meet and socialize. Some springs are reachable by car, such as the Canneto spring, this spring is still used by the local population as well as tourists who claim its fame is due to the purity of the water. Just outside the walls of Vico is ‘The Old Fountain’ also called the `Fountain of the French' and is easily reached by car. It is an evocative place blanketed in trees with an octagonal fountain and washhouse, wonderfully preserved through the centuries. Nearby is the Church of Saint Pure Mary which dates back to the sixteenth century and is embellished inside with paintings and sculpture in the style of leccese baroque. The name of the church derives from a local tradition of burying virgins and children there as recorded in the ‘Book of the Dead’ preserved by church with inscriptions from the sixteenth century forward. It is believed that the church stands on the ancient foundations of the Temple of Calcante, while others believe the stones came from Monte St. Angelo.
The main museum of Vico del Gargano is located at the entrance of the medieval borgo, behind the Castle of Frederic the Second, in the quarter of `Casale'. It is inside a trappeto, an ancient oil-mill which belonged to various noble families of Vico. Constructed in the XIV century, this building has witnessed centuries of hard work poured into the golden olive oils the region is known for. The trappeti were also called ‘trappeti a sangue’ (literally ‘trappeti at blood’); clearly workers were pouring their blood into their labours. Olives were carried to the oil-mill on mules, they were poured in the grinders made by stone (still existing) which were then sent into action by oxen. The circular tracks made by the animals are still visible today. Olives were reduced to a paste by the grinders, which was then poured on the `friscole', or circles of juta which overlapped each other and were pressed with wood. As the olives were pressed, the oil drained through canals and into basins of stone. There they awaited decantation and were then conserved in cisterns of stone. The Trappeto Maratea has wonderful preserved many of the original instruments used at those times. Visitors can also see the ‘monacesca’ kitchen which provided sustenance and a place of rest for those who worked the long hours at the mill.
Many prehistoric sites have been discovered in and around Vico. These include everything from those midst the Walloon in the Umbra Forest (Sfilzi) to the sandy dunes and the Mediterranean vegetation. In this habitat the Palaeolithic hunter found all kinds of wildlife on which to survive. A rocky Necropolis of the late iron age (VI-V century B.C.) makes of part of the periphery of Vico. Called Monte Tabor, it is a place that the inhabitants of Vico throughout the ages have chosen as their burial ground. The tombs of the Iron age, commonly called `a sacco' (a sack) or `a pozzo' (a well), are carved in the chalky bowels of the grassy knoll in concentric lines, according to ancient rituals still not fully understood. According to legend and as suggested by archaeological research, the deceased were held in great importance and buried at the highest and most sun-exposed place in the village. Laid to rest in the foetal position, they awaited their reincarnated life. In 1876, many of these ancient tombs were violated at the hand of the modern man and taken to museums outside of the region. But some objects in bronze and porcelain were preserved and remain at the Civic Museum. In the Pineta Marzini, on the terrace of ‘Macchia di mare’, there is another Palaeolithic site which names means `the civilization of Macchia di mare’ and dates back to IV-III B.C. On the Monte Pucci promontory, hiding under the tower constructed by the Spanish in 1569 for defence against the Saracens, are many more caverns which testify to human presence from the most ancient civilization of the Palaeolithic age.
Just outside the city historical center is the Convent of the Cappuccini Friars, built by the marquis of Vico, Colantonio Caracciolo, in 1556. Following a devastating earthquake in 1646 it was rebuilt and on that occasion the adjacent church was consecrated as ‘Saint Mary of the Angels’ and the majestic live oak was planted in the churchyard. The tree can still be admired and its imposing dimensions (17 metres-high and with diameter of 5 mt.), remind the faithful of the power and endurance of faith in the region. The convent, also known by residents of Vico as the SS. Crucifix, is made up of two rectangular-based levels and its evocative cloister reminds one of the Franciscan style of architecture. Legends recall that in front of convent’s door, Prince Spinelli is buried. He was hated by the inhabitants of Vico because of controversial laws and unjust cruelty. The convent also holds a remarkable collection of art including the work of Ippolito Borghese and an altar-piece of the Madonna of Angels by the Neopolitan artist, Andrea Vaccaro. It is also home to wooden crucifix believe by the locals to be miraculous.
San Menaio, a seaside resort, is the only frazione of the comune of Vico del Gargano.