What to do in Puglia, five things to do in Monti Dauni, from renting a car to dinner in a bibliocaffè to admiring the boundless landscapes.
There is a part of Apulia where the days are still marked by the sound of bells, where the sun warms up to late October, where the elderly ladies who leave the house greet you, hinting at a smile even if you are a completely new face. There is a part of Apulia where you can still hear the children running through the streets of the village, playing ball in the square. Where the dogs, while not belonging to anyone, belong to everyone; where plastic bottles in front of doors are believed to keep cats away. This part of Puglia is not on the sea, but it is in that hinterland of Foggia, where Basilicata and Campania can already be seen, between the Vulture and the wide and harmonious hills that recall the landscapes of Turkey. While the roads that advance straight towards nowhere are remotely reminiscent of those pristine landscapes of the United States, were it not for the wind turbines, always present along the way.
I Monti Dauni they are part of the lesser known, less frequented, but precious Puglia precisely because it still maintains its soul of a Frankish, sincere, romantic land. THE Monti Dauni in reality they are not really mountains, but it is a hilly area, dotted with small villages some that still retain their centuries-old beauty, others less ancient, but always emotionally suggestive.
La Daunia it is a large area and it would take at least a whole week to visit it well, calmly, discovering every corner of nature, history and traditions. So here are 5 things to do, if you want to discover the heart of Puglia, linked to traditions, but always in turmoil in search of innovative ideas.
Via Francigena of the south
Take a stretch of the via Francigena of the south. Few still know of its existence, but the southern Via Francigena goes from Rome to Brindisi, forming a bridge between East and West, deviating in the Foggia area to discover some of the most beautiful villages of the Daunia, such as Cells of S. Vito, Troy. The signs are not well organized and it is not always easy to find information along the way, so it is preferable to organize yourself with paper material in advance and, if necessary, ask the people you meet, always very hospitable.
Traveling by car
Rent a car and drive along the provincial and state roads, getting lost in the boundless natural landscapes, chasing wind turbines, venturing in search of unknown but incredibly beautiful villages. Like the state road that connects Troy with Sant'Agata di Puglia, which looks the Vulture in the face or the provincial road that unites San Marco la Catola with Pietramontecorvino, crossing the thick woods of the scrub.
Dine at the Skantinato
Dine at Skantinato 58 di Troia, a bibliocafé recently opened by some young people from the town, innovative and visionaries who have recovered an old disused basement transforming it into a food and wine and literary center of reference for the area. At the Skantinato you can enjoy excellent platters of cold cuts, cheeses and local specialties, accompanied by excellent Apulian or international craft beer.
Visit to the Museum Complex
A visit to Ascoli Satriano Museum Pole, where the precious polychrome marble griffins are preserved, known all over the world, dating back to the XNUMXth century. BC But also a walk in the morning along the streets of the village, lively, noisy, where along the streets there are chairs intertwined with baskets full of fruit and vegetables for sale, available to passers-by.
Stop to observe the landscape
Stop to observe the landscape sitting on the benches from the top of the park of the Castle of Sant'Agata di Puglia or from its balcony-square, where the gaze is lost on the crests of the lower hills, on the cultivated fields, the flocks of frenetic birds and the Basilicata which reveals itself, just around the corner.
