Vieste

Vieste[3] (Italian: [ˈvjɛste];[4] Viestano: Vìst) is a town, comune and former Catholic bishopric in the province of Foggia, in the Apulia region of southeast Italy. A marine resort in Gargano, Vieste has received Blue Flags for the purity of its waters from the Foundation for Environmental Education. The area covered by the comune is included in the Gargano National Park.

Vieste

Vìst  (Neapolitan)
Comune
Comune di Vieste
Coat of arms
Location of Vieste
Vieste
Location of Vieste in Italy
Vieste
Vieste (Apulia)
Coordinates: 41°53′N 16°10′E
CountryItaly
RegionApulia
ProvinceFoggia (FG)
FrazioniPugnochiuso, Baia di Campi
Government
 • MayorGiuseppe Nobiletti
Area
 • Total167.52 km2 (64.68 sq mi)
Elevation
43 m (141 ft)
Population
 (28 February 2017)[2]
 • Total13,931
 • Density83/km2 (220/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Viestani
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
71019
Dialing code0884
Patron saintSanta Maria di Merino, Saint George
Saint day9 May and 23 April
WebsiteOfficial website

History
View from the port

In medieval times, the port was frequently attacked by pirates, Saracens and other enemies of the Kingdom of Naples.

In 1554 around 7,000 inhabitants were enslaved by the Turks, with those being deemed too elderly or infirm to merit transportation into slavery executed.[3] This event is commemorated annually in a ceremony.

Geography
An example of erosion on the coast
Vieste as seen from the coast

The town is bordered by Mattinata, Monte Sant'Angelo, Peschici and Vico del Gargano. The coast is interesting from a geological point of view. Next to the town there are two large, straight beaches. The rest of the coast is made up of gulfs and small, hidden sandy beaches. Erosion by water and wind has shaped the calcareous rock into grottoes and arches. Since the coast is steep, some of the finest sights can be reached only by sea.

Economy

Until a few decades ago, its main resources were fishing and agriculture. Now tourism, with hotels, resorts and camping facilities, has transformed the town's appearance, economy and lifestyle.

Main sites

Vieste's most known site is Pizzomunno, a vertical rocky monolith standing at 25 m (82 ft) near the Spiaggia del Castello ("Castle Beach"). Other sites include:

  • a castle, with a triangular shape and bastions at its vertexes.
  • the Vieste Co-cathedral in Apulian Romanesque style. It has a basilica 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

See also

References
  1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Istat. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. All demographics and other statistics from the Italian statistical institute (Istat)
  3. Syed, Muzaffar Husain; Akhtar, Syed Saud; Usmani, B. D. (2011-09-14). Concise History of Islam. Vij Books India Pvt Ltd. ISBN 9789382573470.
  4. "Vieste". Dizionario d'Ortografia e di Pronunzia (in Italian). Retrieved 28 June 2019.
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