When you decide to leave for a destination as fascinating as exclusive as the Gargano, you certainly cannot give up organizing a short episode on the splendid archipelago of the Tremiti Islands, a place of the soul (declared UNESCO heritage) that has also conquered famous artists, Lucio Dalla in primis,(a famous italian singer) who appreciated everything about these magical islands, especially attracting lovers of those parts of the territory where nature, art and architecture come together to create a landscape that remains long in your mind and in the eyes of those lucky enough to live in a relaxing way during a stay for their summer holidays.
The Tremiti Islands are located about 25 km from the northern coast of the Gargano and represent an archipelago of islands that can boast a Marine Nature Reserve with one of the most fascinating habitats in the Mediterranean Sea.
The islands of San Domino, San Nicola, Capraia (or Capperaia) and Pianosa, together with the inaccessible rocks of Cretaccio and la Vecchia, made up of an island group with an area of just over 300 hectares, with breathtaking views.
What to see in the Tremiti Islands
Between the islands that make up the Apulian archipelago in the Adriatic Sea, San Domino is the best equipped from a tourist and accommodation point of view because it is the only green one, with pine forests, holm oak woods and Mediterranean scrub that cover most of the surface.
The jagged coast of the island is full of coves, hidden bays and caves that can be better appreciated from the sea with a boat, but can also be reached by land on foot: the Salt Grotto; the Grotta delle Viole for the flowers that grow on the walls; the Grotta del Bue Marino, where the monk seal once lived; the Moray Cave; the Grotta delle Rondinelle.
There are many coves where you can swim, sunbathe and dive into the wonderful sea of the Tremiti along the coast, but the only equipped beach is located in Cala delle Arene, in the north-eastern part of San Domino.
San Nicola, the second island of the Tremiti islands, is not at all green but is the one that preserves the greatest historical heritage of the Apulian archipelago.
Difficult to access due to the high rocky ridges, San Nicola is dominated by the fortress of the Castello dei Badiali with the Abbey of Santa Maria a Mare, with an imposing wall and defense towers, among which the Aragonese Tower, circular in shape, stands out of the fifteenth century and the Torre del Pennello, a quadrilateral bastion.
The Church of Santa Maria a Mare was built by the monks in 1045, with three naves, very large with a mosaic floor, inside it preserves an ancient wooden statue of the Madonna of the sea of a few years after the year 1000, coming from an old Dalmatian convent.
Capraia is also called Capperaia for the abundant production of capers and spontaneous aromatic herbs, but it is practically uninhabited, even if there are plenty of beautiful natural bays and caves that deserve a boat trip.
The Architiello is probably the best known natural scenery of Capraia, but if we are lucky enough to visit this small island, we could discover the Sorrentino Grotto, the Turquoise Grotto, the Mysteries Cave and the Widow's Cave, and then make a fantastic stop on the beach of Cala dei Turchi, shelter of ancient galleys and today's fishing boats from the sirocco winds.
How to get to the Tremiti Islands
The connections of ferries, hydrofoils and motorboats to the Tremiti vary in time and frequency according to the seasons. From Vieste you will find many ideal solutions for you. Most of the ships dock at the San Domino pier, no longer in San Nicola, regularly connected to the others. To get to know all the most beautiful places on the islands - caves and coves in particular - it is convenient to rent a boat or an inflatable boat from the many activities that offer these services.
