Vieste (; nap, label= Viestano, Vìst) is a town, ''

comune The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces (''province''). The can also ...

'' and former Catholic

bishopric In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...

in the

province of Foggia The Province of Foggia ( it, Provincia di Foggia ; Foggiano: ) is a province in the Apulia (Puglia) region of southern Italy. This province is also known as Daunia, after the Daunians, an Iapygian pre-Roman tribe living in Tavoliere plain, an ...

, in the Apulia region of southeast

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

. A marine resort in Gargano, Vieste has received Blue Flags for the purity of its waters from the

Foundation for Environmental Education The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation promoting sustainable development through environmental education. FEE is active through five programmes; Blue Flag, Eco-Schools, Young Reporters fo ...

. The area covered by the comune is included in the

Gargano National Park The Gargano National Park () is a national park in the province of Foggia in southern Italy. Aside from the Gargano promontory (encompassing the ancient woodlands of the Foresta Umbra) from which it takes its name, it includes also the Tremiti Is ...

History

In medieval times, the port was frequently attacked by pirates, Saracens and other enemies of the Kingdom of Naples. In 1554 approximately 7,000 inhabitants were enslaved by the Turks. Those deemed too elderly or infirm for slavery were executed. This event is commemorated in an annual ceremony.

Geography

The town is bordered by Mattinata,

Monte Sant'Angelo Monte Sant'Angelo ( Foggiano: ) is a town and ''comune'' of Apulia, southern Italy, in the province of Foggia, on the southern slopes of Monte Gargano. History Monte Sant'Angelo as a town appeared only in the 11th century. Between 1081 and 1103, ...

Peschici Peschici is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Foggia in the Apulia region of southeast Italy. Famous for its seaside resorts, its territory belongs to the Gargano National Park and to the Gargano Mountain Community. Geography Peschici ...

and Vico del Gargano. The coast has interesting geology; cliffs composed of chalk-like white limestone, sparsely banded with thin layers of flint. Next to the town there are two large, straight beaches. The remainder of the coast is composed of gulfs and small, hidden sandy beaches. Erosion by water and wind has shaped the

calcareous Calcareous () is an adjective meaning "mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate", in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines. In zoology ''Calcareous'' is used as an ad ...

rock into grottoes and arches. The coast is rugged, and many interesting sights are accessible only by sea.

Pizzomunno and its legend

Vieste's best-known landform is ''Pizzomunno'', a

sea stack A stack or sea stack is a geology, geological landform consisting of a steep and often vertical column or columns of rock in the sea near a coast, formed by Coastal_erosion#Wave_action, wave erosion. Stacks are formed over time by wind and wate ...

standing high, situated on the ''Spiaggia del Castello'' ("Castle Beach"). The stone connects to a local legend about a fisherman called Pizzomunno whose true love was captured by

sirens Siren or sirens may refer to: Common meanings * Siren (alarm), a loud acoustic alarm used to alert people to emergencies * Siren (mythology), an enchanting but dangerous monster in Greek mythology Places * Siren (town), Wisconsin * Siren, Wisco ...

and imprisoned under the sea. The story tells how he swam out to rescue her, but became exhausted and gave up hope, turning to stone. Other myths about the rock are that it disappears on some nights, and that a

wish A wish is a hope or desire for something. In fiction, wishes can be used as plot devices. In folklore, opportunities for "making a wish" or for wishes to "come true" or "be granted" are themes that are sometimes used. In fiction In fictio ...

made while circling it will come true.

Economy

Until a few decades ago, Vieste's primary economy was fishing and agriculture. Now tourism, with hotels, resorts and camping facilities, has transformed the town's appearance, economy and lifestyle.

Notable buildings

* A castle, with a triangular shape and bastions at its vertexes. * Vieste Cathedral in Apulian Romanesque style. It has a

basilica In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's Forum (Roman), forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building ...

plan with a nave and two aisles. Its bell tower was rebuilt in Baroque style in the 18th century after the previous one collapsed. * Vieste Lighthouse, built in 1867

References

External links

Official website

tourism website
{{Authority control Castles in Italy Coastal towns in Apulia