Day 1

Vico del Gargano is the place where our partner school is located. In the historical part of Vico del

Gargano, we admired beautiful sights and numerous historical monuments.

Vico del Gargano is a village 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.

The town is bordered by Carpino, Ischitella, Monte Sant'Angelo, Peschici, Rodi Garganico and

Vieste.

Sights of Vico del Gargano include:

The square-plan Castle and the walls

Church of the Carmine

Mother Church (Chiesa Matrice)

14th century church of San Marco

Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli

In my opinion Vico has special architecture that is unique and encouraging to study history of this

place.

It was a great day, to visit and stroll narrow streets of this old town.

Day 2

At the beginning we visited Foresta Umbra, the National Park of Vico del Gargano. He is located

on Gargano peninsula in province of Foggia in Apulia region of Italy. This Park is so popular in

italy as National Park Yellowstone in United States. We discovered the history of the Park,

watched a lake that was in there and we set out further explore Vico del Gargano.

Then we visited a small town situated on a Gargano peninsula in eastern Italy - Monte

Sant'Angelo. We went to the cave of Saint Michael, where, according to legend, Archangel

Michael appeared to the residents. After discovered the cave we came to explore old city Monte

Sant'Angelo.

After that we came to discover Manfredonia and Siponto.

Manfredonia is a town and comune of Apulia, Italy, in the province of Foggia. Manfredonia is

situated on the coast, facing east, to the south of Monte Gargano, and gives its name to the gulf to

the east of it.

Siponto was an ancient port town of Apulia in southern Italy. We learned that the own was

abandoned after earthquakes in the 13th century.

After the sightseeing we returned to the hotel.

Agnieszka

Day 3

On Wednesday we visited Castle del Monte.

Some history:

Frederick II built the Castel del Monte, 17 km south of Andria because it was his favorite spot. This

is one of the most remarkable castles in Puglia. The building is an excellent example of Swabian

architecture. Frederick began to build in the fifth decade of the thirteenth century. He raised high,

lonely fortress centered around the octagonal courtyard, with two floors eight rooms. It remains a

mystery for today's primary use of the building. Probably not created for defense purposes.

Although it had previously lowered iron gate in front of the main entrance, otherwise we do not see

any traces of the fortifications. Perhaps he is playing the role of an ordinary hunting palace;

Mathematical precision design and an obsession with the number eight centuries, however,

intrigued writers and stimulate their imagination. Some say that the lock could be a huge

astrological calendar, as well, that Frederick was inspired by the octagonal mosque of Omar in

Jerusalem; but really what the purpose of the building, no one is sure. History recorded only one

case of practical use of the building. After losing by Manfred, illegitimate son of Frederick, at the

battle of Benevento in 1266 the sons and heirs of Manfred had been locked in here for thirty years

- the isolation of the castle had to give them a misery.

Next we visited village Aberobello.

“Alberobello is a small town and comune of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. It

has about 11,000 inhabitants and is famous for its unique trulli buildings. The Trulli of Alberobello

have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.

A trullo (plural, trulli) is a traditional Apulian dry stone hut with a conical roof. Their style of

construction is specific to the Itria Valley, in the Murge area of the Italian region of Apulia. Trulli

were generally constructed as temporary field shelters and storehouses or as permanent dwellings

by small proprietors or agricultural labourers. In the town of Alberobello, in the province of Bari,

whole districts are packed with trulli. The golden age of trulli was the 19th century, especially its

final decades marked by the development of wine growing.

In an 1897 photograph of the rione Monti (the district of the Mounts), the trulli are far less densely

packed than today, being surrounded by enclosed gardens.

The urban trulli still extant in Alberobello today date from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. After

having undergone a process of densification in the first decades of the 20th century, the trulli

settlements started being deserted in the second half of the 20th century

The rural trulli, on cheaper land, ceased to be built when the cost of labour began to rise in the

twentieth century. The sheer expense of handling the hundreds of tons necessary for a single

house became prohibitive.”

Before we began to explore the city, we went to the restaurant Il Trullo D'Oro, where we had a

delicious dinner. After the tour we went back to the hotel happy.

I think that, like me, others also loved this day. We saw a beautiful castle and cottages, buildings

like in a fairy tale.

Gabriela

Day 5

This day we had planned to visit Gargano Coast. We woke up very early. When we finished our

set we went down for breakfast. Waiters served us cappuccino and corrneti. Corrneti are Italian

croissant with fruit filling. After this such a good start of the day we had seen it will be best day! We

went out around seven a.m. from Maremonti Hotel. First objective was sightseeing coast. Firstly to

greet us white sheer slope which create wonderful view. When we joined at beach was only better.

We saw beautiful sun shafts upon buildings and water. In the distance we saw huge olive groves,

grapevine plantations with pinewood forest spilled at hills and valleys. After exhaustive sightseeing

we decided to go for solid meal. We had invite to Italian school IPPSAR E. Matei. When chef

making meal we goes to look over their school. We participated in show made for us. That one

was wonderful experience. After this attraction they ask to join ballroom. For side-dish was little

sandwich with caviar. Next was main dish. It was fish in rice shell with fresh vegetables salad as

well as great mandarin sauce. But we waited for dessert. We waited very long. We thought. It

turned out that was only 2 minutes. Waiters gave us tart moistened brandy with whipped cream

and ice-cream in pyramid form with cherry sauce. In my view the most delicious was dessert.

When we part with chefs we went to Vieste and Peschicci. They are little cities in coast cut in

calcareous rock. All building are white and when sun goes down it the best view in world. From all

place is wonderful view. Tired but happy we return to hotel. We ate dinner. After we were talking

with other guys and played games. In late night we went to bed. It was the best day for now. We

make new friends and visited best places in peninsula Gargano.

Bartek

Day 6

Thursday was the latest day of sightseeing. Our early riser- Gabrysia woke us up. We started day

with visiting

Matera. We were there at 9.00 am o'clock. Matera is a very old town. There was historic

tenements, caves and many stony stairs.

We went down this stairs and visiting. Around this city was valley and hills. There were very

beautifull landscapes.

We had some time to take photos and admire views. After sightseeing we went to the shopping

centre and ate there lunch.

When shopping time was close we went to the bus and drove back to the hotel. We were singing

all the way back. When we reached destination we had to say goodbye. Many of us were crying,

because it was hard to bid farewell.

Eliza