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Visit Cagnano Varano
Cagnano Varano is situated in a region of lush vegetation on the north shore of the Gargano peninsula, in the Pglia region of south-east Italy.
The Old Town is located around the Cathedral of Santa Maria della Pietà, which has a a Latin cross plan and is in Baroque style. Overlooking the ancient town square, which it dominates with its high bell tower, it was consecrated in 1676 and raised to collegiate status in 1758. Inside, besides numerous statues of saints, there are 18th century wooden choir stands.
Opposite the cathedral is the so-called Baronial Palace, a "castrum" of Norman origin which underwent several changes between the 17th and 18th centuries - called "il Casale" it is located near the main gate of the city and was for a long period the residence of the local feudal lords, the Counts Caracciolo. In fact, the Baronial Palace is a "Fortress Palace", an imposing structure, precisely because it was built on the ancient Norman "castrum". Counts Caracciolo lived in only a part of the ancient castle, because "one quarter of it was just a heap of ruins." [Quilici].
Another place of worship is the Church of the Annunciation, probably dating from the 16th century, which holds the "Varano Crucifix”, a polychrome wooden statue dating back to the 14th century.
The most significant attraction of Cagnano Varano is surely Mount Sant'Angelo, and the cave-church consecrated to St. Michael in the late fifth century AD. Until the Middle Ages, the shrine was the object of a pilgrimage that even came from outside Italy; the cult of the saint was widespread among the Lombards and the pilgrims reached the cave along a route that, starting from Mont Cenis and St. Gothard converged on Pavia, the Lombard capital, and Piacenza, then as far as Rome along the Via Romea, carefully avoiding the territory that fell under Byzantine rule. With the spread of the Saint’s cult, the road was called the “Via Sacra Langobardorum” (The Sacred Road of the Lombards).
Note: the cult of the saint had a European coverage and took hold especially in France, but also in Spain, Germany, Belgium and even in England. The cave is very evocative, with an entrance surmounted by a niche with a statue of the Saint. The floor is ancient, marked by carvings of hands and feet, left by the faithful. In some places stalagmites and stalactites can be seen. To the left of the entrance are a small sacristy and a font on an octagonal base. Inside the sacristy, on the façade of an old whitewashed altar a reptile is depicted. On the main altar is a copy of the statue of the Saint.
Finally, faced with the great traditions of Cagnano Varano the tourist can not fail to try the cuisine that reflects the great local tradition, and is characterized by seafood, like fish, shellfish, seafood and products from the lake, such as eels. Among the typical dishes of Cagnano Varano we suggest tasting the "white capitone", "orecchiette" with chops, "tiella" and mussels with rice. Among the sweets we mention the “Pancotto”, "Pizzarelli", "Roast chestnuts", “‘Zeppole’ of St. Joseph”, “biscuits cooked in wine " and “mustaccioli”.
See also etymology of the name Cagnano Varano