In winter, between 10,000 and 20,000 ducks gather at Lago Salso. The wetland is home to numerous waterbirds year-round; winter visitors also include rare and endangered species. Covering around 540 hectares, Lago Salso, formerly called Daunia-Risi, lies in the Province of Foggia between the Manfredonia plain and the Ofanto River. It is part of the Gargano National Park. Seasonal changes lend the birdlife a distinctive character: particularly large numbers of ducks gather there in winter, while the area provides a habitat for numerous waterbirds throughout the year.
Birdwatching and Trails in Gargano
The coastal trails of Gargano National Park extend for a total of 5 kilometres. They provide access to observation huts, towers and screens, and are mainly used for birdwatching. Foresta Umbra reveals another side of the landscape. The phenomenon known as “faggete depresse”, typical of Gargano, describes beech trees that grow at unusually low elevations thanks to special microclimatic conditions. Foresta Umbra is considered one of the most species-rich forests in Italy.
There are 15 marked trails for hiking, with directional signs, place names and trail markers. Together, the network covers around 54 kilometres. At the heart of the forest are visitor facilities, including a museum, the forester’s hut and equipped areas with fallow deer, wild boar and mouflons. The Museo Naturalistico della Foresta Umbra consists of three indoor areas and one outdoor area. As access may be seasonal, check visiting arrangements with the park administration in advance. You can also buy a hiking map of Umbra and information materials from Gargano National Park, and rent mountain bikes there; check current availability before your visit.
Foggia’s History in Museums and Churches
The archaeological finds at the Museo Civico di Foggia date from prehistoric times to the Roman period. They include finds from Arpi and other ancient settlements. The lapidarium extends this historical perspective with sculptures and architectural fragments dating from the early Christian era to the 19th century. The ethnographic section features a reconstructed home of a rural family from Gargano in the early 20th century. Depictions of weaving and breadmaking offer a glimpse of the activities shown there.
Foggia Cathedral was built in the 12th century in the Apulian Romanesque style. It houses the Iconavetere, also known as the Madonna dei Sette Veli. Solemn ceremonies are held in her honour in Foggia every year; dates and arrangements may vary. The Chiesa delle Croci also brings together several historical associations: it comprises seven monuments that replaced seven original crosses, and is considered the city’s only national monument. Beneath the church is a small crypt called Terra Santa.
The Chiesa di San Tommaso was probably the first place of worship in the emerging city of Foggia and was rebuilt after the 1731 earthquake. The church contains numerous paintings by Nicola Montagano, a painter from Foggia. Via Arpi is a starting point for exploring the city’s underground spaces; access to individual hypogea may vary.
Archaeology and Local Produce
The Parco archeologico di Passo Corvo preserves the remains of a Neolithic settlement that was active between the 5th and 4th millennia BC. Across the site, which covers around 130 hectares, visitors can see reconstructed scenes of everyday life in the Neolithic, including a full-size hut and a ditch. Check the site’s access arrangements before visiting.
Dauno DOP extra virgin olive oil is also part of the regional character of the Province of Foggia. It is made from various olive varieties grown there. The DOP geographical designations include Alto Tavoliere, Basso Tavoliere, Gargano and Sub-Appennino. These four names refer to the geographical divisions of the protected designation and add a culinary connection to the region’s nature and culture experiences.
Discover more destinations: Alberona, Motta Montecorvino, Lido Del Sole, Mattinata, Peschici, Rodi Garganico, San Menaio, Vieste, Pugnochiuso, Vico Del Gargano, Trinitapoli, San Giovanni Rotondo, Manfredonia, Lucera, Ischitella, Foggia, San Domino, Foce Varano, Lauro, Candela, Carpino, San Marco In Lamis, San Paolo Di Civitate, Giardinetto Vecchio, Celenza Valfortore, Bovino, Lesina, Castelluccio Dei Sauri, Cagnano Varano, San Severo, Cerignola, Volturara Appula, Monte Sant'angelo, Rignano Garganico, Serracapriola, Orta Nova, Borgo Celano, Troia, Rocchetta Sant'antonio, Chieuti, Zapponeta, San Nicola Di Tremiti, Sant'agata Di Puglia, Faeto, Tomaiolo, Roseto Valfortore, Accadia, Deliceto, Segezia, Torremaggiore, San Nicandro Garganico, Stornara, Torre Mileto, Poggio Imperiale, San Marco La Catola.
For the overall travel guide: Apulia.
