Today I want to tell you about a trek on the Gargano in the name of wild nature: the one on Monte Saraceno. It is a route that winds along the northern part of the mountain and which, as you will be able to discover in this article, holds many surprises. This article is for you if:

• holiday is synonymous with exploration
• you like to go on an adventure and discover something new every day

Enjoy the reading!

The Mount Saraceno

The trekking on Monte Saraceno is a tourist route, about 5.6 kilometers round trip with an average walking time of 3 hours. It is a demanding route, with small, slightly steep stretches over the sea. In fact it is ideal for those who are not beginners with long walks. Make sure you leave with suitable shoes (better if specific for trekking). You will walk on more and less dirt roads and on variable slopes. Don’t forget a hat to protect you from the sun, a windbreaker in autumn and spring, enough fresh water and a camera to capture the beauties! If you are a keen hiker we recommend that you bring a guide with you to help you recognize the plants and birds, it will be exciting.

Monte Saraceno is in fact a large hill 260 meters high overlooking the Adriatic Sea in correspondence with the city of Mattinata, province of Foggia. A place to admire the pachamama in all its power. There are more than 2200 different species: you will be able to see pine trees, wild orchids, fruit trees and an incredible variety of birds that nest in these areas. In practice it is like walking in a botanical garden and if you go through it in the last hours of the day the chances of seeing birds will increase considerably. PS: Remember to capture the beauty of this place with your eyes, but when your mobile phone takes pictures tag us on instagram @homegargano

The starting point of the trek

To start the route, just arrive near Mattinata, in fact along the SS89, when you arrive at the crossroads for Monte Sant’Angelo, you can leave your car and set out on foot for what is a really well-signposted route. Once parked, follow the signs to take the trekking route. The first stretch offers a crazy view of the olive groves and the town of Mattinata characterized by the unmistakable white houses. After only 1 KM the first stage is to discover age-old stories.

Necropolis of the Dauna civilization

The first stop is an archaeological site that goes slightly off the path, it is a village with more than 500 tombs carved into the limestone rock. They date back to a period of time that goes from the Bronze Age (3000 BC) to the Copper Age (5000 BC). They are really a lot and you can walk among them for look at them better, their peculiarity is that they have an unusual shape, what appears to be a hole somehow resembles a uterus. In fact, the bodies of the deceased were placed curled up in a fetal position, just like in the mother’s womb, according to Eurasian traditions.

A civilization that has decided to sleep forever cradled by the song of the sea. How to blame them.

The panoramic view of Monte Saraceno

Returning along the path, after about half an hour, you will find yourself at a television repeater and a breathtaking landscape will appear before you: an open view, overlooking the sea. Here you can admire the Adriatic Sea, the clearer the sky, the more clearly you can observe the Apulian coast. A place to take a moment to breathe and feel surrounded by the immensity of nature. For other adventures on the Gargano read also: The paths of the Umbra Forest