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Visit Carpino
The small town of Carpino is situated on a hill between Lake Varano and the Umbra Forest in the Gargano region of Puglia.
The characterful Old Town in Carpino has houses 'stacked' on the streets and small alleys connected by stairways. The Norman-Swabian Castle in the old town was built by the Normans in the eleventh century, and then passed into the hands of the Swabians. Today few traces of it remain, such as the old square tower with a pyramidal base and an overhanging cylindrical structure.
The main church in Carpino was consecrated in 1678 by Bishop Vincenzo Maria Orsini, who then ascended the papal throne under the name of Benedict XIII (1649-1730). This building has elements of Baroque and an elegant portal. The first historical data about the church dates back to 1678 - from this we know that the Archbishop Francesco Vincenzo Maria Orsini consecrated it October 22, 1678 in honour of St. Nicholas of Mira. The decorated main façade has some niches with stone statues, while above the portal is a window, in stained glass, placing the light directly on the apse. At the corners of the façade there are two stone statues in the center of the gable roof of a wrought iron cross. The dome above the main altar is fully painted, unlike other parts of the church, where several restorations have ruined the frescoes. At the four corners of the domethe four Evangelists are represented. The Bell tower is located in the left corner of the Church and is spread over three levels, the last of which are the belfries and the old dome cover.
In the Piazza del Popolo, on top of a staircase, stands the massive structure of the Church of St Cyril. This church existed 1310 at which time it acted as an oratory- it was modernized in the late eighteenth century in a baroque style. To the side of the building there is the ancient Romanesque portal, which was originally the main entrance. Inside the vault you can see a painting in tempera depicting the Holy Trinity, while to the side we see the medallions of the two patron saints venerated in Carpino, St. Cyril of Alexandria and St. Rocco.
On the hill called Pastromiele there is also the small Church of the Holy Cross.
Genreal Carpino information
The main source of income for the town is agriculture, among which the cultivation of olive trees and olive oil is important and one of the most popular and valuable oils of the Gargano. Also notable is the production of vegetables, including beans and citrus fruits, while another important local industry is handicrafts, now characterized by the production of articles manufactured according to the ancient traditions, using old wooden looms and the production of objects and wicker furniture.
The local cuisine reflects the Mediterranean diet. The traditional dishes are made mostly of vegetables and seasonal vegetables, sea fish, and products from the nearbt lakes and woods. There are many local recipes to try, such as the chicory with the mashed beans, the "Orecchiette", Carpino soup, stuffed squid and raw onion. Among the cheeses we suggest the Caciocavallo, scamorza, and Giuncata. All to be accompanied by the folk-music of the famous “Cantori” of Carpino!
See also history of Carpino. Note: photo is copyright.