Tenuta Villa Oleandro
Monuments
Norman Swabian Aragonese Castle
The castle, or "castrum Vici", already existed in the 11thC when it was in the ownership of the Normans. Mentioned in many historical documents, the first citation appears in a document of AD 1113; in another document dated AD 1144, the Church of San Pietro Apostolo (St Peter the Apostle) "supra montem, prope castellum Vici" (on a mountain close to Vico), was donated by the Norman knight Enrico de Ollia to the canons of San Leonardo. And in a document of AD 1149 the castle is mentioned by Cristofano, a resident of the castle of Vico.
The outer walls are only discernible in places as, over the centuries, buildings were added butting up against the original castle walls. The crenulations, where they still exisit, appear to be original. Entrance was gained through a high arch, and inside, a spacious courtyard with access to the original stables and storerooms, now a restaurant and apartments. Defence was the initial purpose for the construction of the castle complex, which in later Swabian times, was enlarged and adapted to a "domus solaciorum" in other words a noble residence ideal for the entertainment of the emperor Frederick II and his courtiers.
The Citadel Walls
In AD 1292 Teodisco de Cuneo, man of arms and chief crossbowman, provided Vico with an organised defence system of fortified walls and about twenty towers that encompassed the town which then consisted of two quarters, Civita and Terra.
The AD 1726 Valuation Report of the fiefdom of Vico states: "Most of what makes up the entirety of the town is enclosed by fortification walls, with intermittent round and square towers ... walls through which citizens are not permitted other than to enter and exit the town through a single gate ... this to prevent an incursion by the Turks who in the past were said to have reached the perimeters of the town." Citizens found outside their homes at night were incarcerated and required to pay a penalty of 6 ducats.
Palazzo Della Bella
This stately building introduces a "Florentine" note to Vico. Commissioned at the beginning of the 20thC (so not as old as it looks) by Don Ignazio Della Bella, the design was inspired by the neo-gothic 14thC Palazzo Vecchio located in Piazza della Signoria in Florence. On two storeys, delineated by string-courses (raised horizontal courses of bricks or blocks) and crowned by swallowtail crenellations, Palazzo della Bella consists of two buildings along Salita Della Bella and two ancient circular towers. On the site of the original corner tower, of which the Della Bella family preserves photographic evidence, an imposing square tower stands today.
Vicolo del Bacio
This is a narrow alleyway located in the historic center of Vico opposite the Church of San Giuseppe. No more than 50cm wide and less than 30m long, it is a place where lovers meet to exchange a kiss or two, especially on the feast day of the patron saint of Vico, February 14th, St Valentines Day. In the olden days it was absolutely taboo for young singles to meet, speak or touch never mind kiss. This narrow alley was the perfect excuse to do all of those things and was thus dubbed Vicolo del Bacio or Kiss Alley.
At the end of the alley, on the left, is a small piazza where a wishing well can be found. During high days and holidays, and especially on St Valentines' Day, visitors can write a wish on a slip of paper and drop it into the well. The wishes, anoymous or signed, are then gathered up and published into a booklet.
The Monumental Holm-oak at the Capuchin Convent
17m high and with a trunk that boasts a circumference of about 5m, this tree is a spectacular centuries-old Holm-oak (quercus ilex) that stands in front of the Franciscan church and convent of Santa Maria degli Angeli. It was transplanted to its current position by Fra Nicola da Vico (Brother Nicola of Vico) who died at an advanced age in 1719.
The Park of Remembrance
Adjacent to the convent and Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angeli, a small park of Holm-oaks (quercus ilex) commemorates Vichese citizens who failed to return from war. Each tree bears a nameplate for one of the fallen soldiers. From the park there are amazing views over valleys of olive groves and woodlands that stretch to the sea at Calenella Bay, the Foresta Umbra (Shady Forest) and Peschici.
The Stones of Remembrance
In Piazza San Domenico, in front of the Municipal Hall and the Chiesa dei Santissimi Apostoli Pietro e Paolo, stands the war memorial to the fallen citizens of Vico del Gargano. Citizens who left to fight for their country but never returned.
In Piazza Caduti nelle Missioni Internationali di Pace all'Estero a second monument has been erected to commemorate the soldiers who died during overseas peace-keeping missions.
Torre dei Preposti
Located at the renowned seaside resort of San Menaio, within the Municipality of Vico del Gargano, the Provosts Tower was built in the 14thC, probably during Norman times, and fortified in AD1569 during the reinforcement of southern Adriatic coastal defences. Referred to as the Torre di Menna in the records of the AD 1678 pastoral visit of the Archbishop of Manfredoina, Cardinal Orsini (later Pope Benedict XIII), the building is now also known as Torre dei Doganieri (Customs Tower).
Torre di Monte Pucci (Tower of Monte Pucci)
Torre di Monte Pucci is a 16thC Saracen lookout post that towers above Calenella Bay and marks the border between the territories of Vico del Gargano and Peschici. With spetacular views of the Gargano coastline, from Peschici to San Menaio, Rodi Garganico and beyond, to the Tremiti and Dalmatian islands, to the Majella Massif and the Gran Sasso Mountain peaks of the Abruzzi Apennines. What makes it especially noteworthy is the fact that it faces directly north and from here it is possible, in summer, to see the sun rise and set over the same sea; and also, its walls play host to an annual profusion of Campanula Carganica.
For the purposes of countering hostile pirate and privateer activity Saracen lookout towers were built in strategic coastal locations between 10km and 30km apart, depending upon the nature of the coastline. Each tower was positioned within sight of the two towers on either side of it, thus creating an uninterrupted defence cordon. Suspicious sightings were announced between towers with columns of smoke by day and flaming torches by night and the nearest military garrison alerted by swift horsemen.
In more recent times, the towers were used to watch out for smugglers but then fell into disrepair. Some (Calalunga, Portonuovo, San Felice, Torre Petra, Monte Pucci) remain more or less intact but others (Sfinale and Calarossa) are ruins. Although it is not possible to visit the the Torre di Monte Pucci the occasional film crew does consider it an excellent "set".
Trappeto Maratea Museum
The museum is located in Piazza Castello, in the Casale district of the medieval historic center. In an ancient underground olive mill dating back to the 14thC, the trappeto was privately owned by the noble families of Vico. The space, largely carved out into rock, is today an important showcase for the origins of the local culture; based on the cultivation of olives its very existance is evidenced in the trappeto.
At the bottom of the stone steps, to the left, stands the olive mill. With two circular carbonate rock millstones, the mill was once powered by oxen who tramped round in circles to reduce the olives to a pulp. To the right, a large space with what remains of the huge wooden presses and stone reservoirs where the oil and water obtained from the pressed olive pulp would await decantation. Adjoining the main olive oil extraction areas are a storeroom, stable and "cucina monacesca" (monk's-cell kitchen). Throughout the museum can be seen many old tools useful for oil production, agricultural work and wine production as well as a variety of items used in everyday life.
Open daily in July & August: 17.00 -21.00
Entrance is free however contributions always welcome.
At other times by request:
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The Return of the Changelling
- from Puglia and back
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