Monte Sant'Angelo
Monte Sant'Angelo is a city in the province of Foggia in the region of Apulia (Puglia). It is famous for the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Understand
The city stands on a spur of the Gargano in a wooded area not far from the sea.
Get in
By plane
Monte Sant'Angelo can be reached from three airports in Puglia:
- Foggia "Gino Lisa" airport
- Bari "Palese" airport
- Brindisi airport
Foggia airport is the closest to the city.
By car
To arrive by car you must reach the A14 Bologna/Taranto motorway. Continuing along this highway you can take:
- the San Severo exit (Km 57). Take the state road 272 towards San Marco in Lamis continue towards San Giovanni Rotondo and 24 km Monte Sant'Angelo;
- the Foggia exit (Km 54). Take the SS 89 towards Manfredonia, in Macchia take the detour to Monte Sant'Angelo
By train
By train, the nearest airport is the Foggia station. From Foggia station you can reach Monte Sant'Angelo by bus or taxi.
By bus
There are many ways to reach the town by bus:
- Long Range Lines of Ferrovie del Gargano: daily connect several large Italian cities with the municipalities of the Gargano.
- SAPS National and International Lines: in this case, you get to Foggia, and then use other local lines (e.g. Ferrovie del Gargano and SITA) to Monte Sant'Angelo.
Get around
There is an urban transport bus service in the city.
See
The CardMSA allows you to visit the main sites of interest in the city with a single ticket: the Lapidary Museum and the Devotional Museum of the UNESCO World Heritage Sanctuary, the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Tumba, the Norman Castle- Svevo-Aragonese, the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions of the Gargano. The city card also includes discounts at the restaurants and hotels participating in the project. The cost of the card is €6 (August 2021).
- 🌍 Sanctuary of San Michele, Via Reale Basilica. Built in the 13th century by Charles I of Anjou. The portal has bronze doors (1076) where scenes from the Old and the New Testament are depicted. The cave of the apparition is accessed through the internal hall. Here there is an altar and a statue made by Andrea Sansovino depicting the Archangel. The altar of the Madonna dates back to the 11th-12th century. It is among the Lombard UNESCO heritage sites. The National Geographic Society has recognized the Grotta di San Michele Arcangelo as one of the most beautiful caves in the world.
- 🌍 Monte Sant'Angelo Castle, Via Castello. The first evidence of the structure of the Castle dates back to the years 837-838. The castle was the residence of princes of the Honor Sancti Angeli lordship: it belonged to Rainulfo (count of Aversa) and then to Roberto il Guiscardo. It hosted Frederick II of Swabia and his favorite, the Countess Bianca Lancia of Turin. The Angevins used it as a state prison: famous are the detentions of Filippa d'Antiochia (Swabian princess) who died there in 1273, and that of Queen Giovanna (perhaps murdered there) and whose remains remain in Monte Sant'Angelo , in the church of San Francesco. It also became the home of Durazzo princes: in fact, Charles III of Durazzo, later king of Naples and Hungary, was born here.
Eat
- Il Ristoro degli Angeli (Refreshment of the Angels) (in the tourist area of the city), ☏ +39 0884561800. A restaurant - pizzeria near the castle of Monte Sant'Angelo.
Sleep
- Villa Bisceglia, avenue kennedy (1.5 km from the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo), ☏ +390884565610. It offers free parking and rooms with balconies and LCD satellite TVs. The rooms are furnished in a simple and modern style at the same time and all rooms have a view of the Mediterranean Sea or the mountains of the Gargano peninsula. It serves a continental buffet breakfast.
- Palace Hotel San Michele, Via Madonna degli Angeli, ☏ +39 0884 565653. The Palace Hotel San Michele is a four-star hotel and restaurant with a day spa. It is also a gay-friendly hotel. Breakfast included. Double from €64, suites from €100.
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