History

Around the monastery of San Marco in Lamis two villages were founded, now known as  "San Marco in Lamis” and “San Giovanni Rotondo”.  The document dating back to 1007 shows that the monastic structure of San Giovanni in Lamis  was already well underway; so  it is certain that it and the surrounding village dated back to ancient times, even to the sixth century AD. In fact, R. Infante noted that "the most important and certainly the oldest [in Gargano] was the Benedictine Abbey of San Giovanni in Lamis, who perhaps was originally a 'xenodochium' (literally" hospice ", a sort of hostel, a shelter for strangers), founded by the Lombards.

Historically it is certain that in 1007 the Abbey existed independently and fully real efficient  "(See R. Infante, “I Cammini dell'Angelo nella Daunia tardoantica e medievale” [“The ways of the Angel in the Late Ancient and Medieval Daunia”, Edipuglia, 2009:   54]). For more Panella and Cittadini point out that  the Lombards entrusted the  "xenodichium" the Benedictines in 567 AD (See Panella-Cittadini, “Dal mondo antico al cristianesimo, sulle tracce di Giano” ["From the Ancient World to Christianity, on the Trace of Janus", Morlacchi, 2008: 51).

However, why was the Benedictine Abbey dedicated to San Giovanni? Even the attribution of the name is closely linked to the ancient traditions of worship of the Gargano, and in particular the cult of Janus. Indeed Panella and Cittadini explain that: "[...] the transition from Janus in ‘San Giovanni’ is evidenced by the fact that most Christian churches were built where previously pagan temples were located in which Janus was worshiped, and which were then dedicated to St. John (...) as happened with the Convent of ‘San Matteo’, once called ‘San Giovanni in Lamis’ (or 'de Lama') ". The change of name from "San Giovanni in Lamis" to "Convent of St. Matthew" was in the sixteenth century, "when the Franciscans  reached the place,  who changed the name to" Convent of St. Matthew  "(p. 51).

During the period of Spanish rule not particularly important events happened, but in the eighteenth century, San Marco in Lamis recorded a rapid increase in population and gained an important role in Gargano, thanks to its economic activities, including distinguished handicraft. With increased population, there was a remarkable building expansion, with the birth of the Collegiate Church, the church of “Sant'Antonio Abate”, “San Bernardino”, Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Joseph, and St. Clare.

In the Napoleonic French domination the city was ruled by G. Murat (1767-1825). A considerable and important period followed after the unification of Italy, when the town developed the so-called "banditry" (“Brigantaggio”), for several reasons against the Unification (1861). Another population increase was recorded in the early twentieth century, with a certain development of agriculture and crafts with the workings in iron, wood and gold. Currently, the economic life of the small town is based on tourism, especially religious.

Etymology

"San Marco in Lamis" is the modern name of an ancient monastery that was born in the wilderness of the Gargano marshes, or the Monastery of  “San Giovanni in Lamis ", so named precisely because it is situated “in Lamis”,  “among the swamps.”  The origin of the monastery is traced back to the first years of the eleventh century, but it is much older. The mention of the monastery is found in a document dating back to 1007, when the Catapan Alessio Xifea  made some donations to the monastery of San Giovanni in Lamis, such as the town of Casamassima "[...] a land granted in 1007 by  Protospatharius Alexius Xifea , Catapan of Italy, the Abbey of “San Giovanni ‘de Lama’” (now the Convent of “San Matteo”, near “San Marco in Lamis”) [...]" (See S. Montanaro, “Casamassima nella Storia dei Tempi”[ "Casamassima in the History of Times"], Levante, 1994 , Vol. 1:  12).

Even more specific is G.B. Bronzini, who points out that "[...] the first documentary evidence of the monastery dates back to March 1007, when the Abbey, which already owned some property and feudal domains, obtained by the  Catapan of Italy Alexius Xifea the granting  of new land, with the guarantee of strict respect for borders. Followed in July 1008 the confirmation of this grant by Catapan John Curqua. Other concessions are documented respectively in January 1029 and in December 1030 [...]" (See GB Bronzini, “Ex Voto e Santuari in Puglia, il Gargano” ["Ex Voto and Shrines in Apulia, the Gargano”, Olschki, 1993: 35). The ancient document, published by Giovanni del Giudice, so says: “[...] Sigillum factum Alexii prospattarii Catapani Italie Xhipea, et datum tibi Alexandro Monaco et Abbati Sancti Ioannis de Lama nomine ipsius Monasterii mense martii indictione quinta (...) Unde hoc sigillum damus bullatum plumbeo tibi Alexandro monaco, et Abbati dicti monasterii et posteris suis mense et indictione supradictis, Alexii protospatarii et Catapani Italie Xiphra (1007) [...]”,or, “with the seal of Alexius Xifea , the protospatharius and Catapan of  Italy, and given to you Alexander, Abbot of ‘San Giovanni de Lama’, in the name of the same monastery in March, in the fifth indiction (...) For this reason we give this plumbed seal to you Alexander Monk and Abbot of the monastery and to your successors in the month and Indiction given above, by the will of  Alexius Xifea ,  the Protospatharius and Catapan of Italy (1007) "(See Giuseppe del Giudice, “Codice Diplomatico del Regno di Carlo I e II d'Angiò”[ "Diplomatic Code of the Reign of Charles I and II of Naples”, Naples, 1863:  V, p. XIII).