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Visit Ischitella
Ischitella is situated on a hill dominated by olive trees and Mediterranean bushes about 300 meters above sea level and it is part of the Gargano National Park. From the village the extends to the Tremiti Islands and Lake Varano, near which is the “Foce Varano”, the sea beach of Ischitella.
The ancient village is also called "Earth", divided by the newer part, called the "Bridge". The 'Earth' is characterized by houses with decks overlooking the winding narrow streets leading to the main monuments of the city.
In the Old Town, on top of a high hill, is the Palace of the Pinto (now “Ventrella”), an imposing three-storey building with an impressive portal on the main façade. It was commissioned in the 18th century by Francis Emmanuel Pinto (1697-1767), who built it on the ruins of the ancient Swabian castle, the famous "castrum" built in the Middle Ages by Emperor Frederick II of Swabia. The castle collapsed following the earthquake of 1640, after which the ancient fortress became the residence of the Pinto Princes.
Near the palace there is the Church of St. Eustace, the patron saint of the town, with a façade composed of mouldings and friezes in stone; it has a single nave and in two lateral niches we can see the statues of the Patron Saint and San Pasquale. There are remarkable paintings on the altars by Gennaro Abbate (18th century), a Neapolitan painter. Note that in the eighteenth century the Princes of Ischitella led local churches with works by the Neapolitan school: with examples such as: at San Eustachio an "Our Lady of Carmine with St. Michael” , a "Christ in Glory" and other paintings by Gennaro Abbate; a "Nativity" and a "Crucifixion", preserved in the Church of St. Francis; a "Madonna of Mercy", also of the Neapolitan school, can be seen in the "Church of Purgatory," dating back to the second half of the seventeenth century, with a nave, beams and vaulted ceiling.
According to critics, the presence of so many works of the Neapolitan school in Ischitella suggests that they were "local artists who were culturally trained in Naples and then returned to work in their land of origin. Among them are Cesare Turco (1510-1560), a native painter of Ischitella'.
Other notable religious monuments are the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore (dating back to the 17th century) with three naves, adorned with wooden statues of various saints, and works of the Neapolitan school, and the Church and Convent of St. Francis (XV century , with three naves, and large windows in Gothic style. Among the works of art are "The Adoration of the Shepherds" by Gennaro Abbate, dating back to the first decade of the eighteenth century.
To visit outside the city, the Abbey of San Pietro in Cuppis is of Romanesque style, built in the first half of the 11th century.
Ischitella is still a resort that stands above all for its natural beauty, because it is located on the northern side of Gargano, on a hill covered with olive trees and thick Mediterranean vegetation, in an area rich in springs and below which the “Romandato” stream flows. From the village there is a view that stretches from the hills surrounding the Adriatic Sea to the Tremiti islands and Lake Varano, with its isthmus and the popular beaches of “Isola Varano” and “Foce Varano”.
The economy of Ischitella is based on agriculture and tourism, with various associated handicrafts such as oil mills, handcrafted wrought iron and wood. The regional products are primarily olive oil and citrus, while the most traditional dishes to try are the "Orecchiette” with turnip greens and "Troccoli" (the typical Puglia “spaghetti”, also called “spaghetti guitar”), while among the local main courses try the grilled fish, including shrimp and sole.
Note: photo is copyright. See also history of Ischitella