ITALIA TOUR

PESCHICI-FOGGIA

Peschici (source: Visual Puglia )

The town of Peschici is perched within Gargano National Park in the province of Foggia. Its origins date back to 970 A.D. when on the settlement of the current town Slav troops under Captain Sueripolo set up camp and drove the Saracens out of the Gargano.
As a result they received the gift of the lands around San Vito and they established two colonies: Vico and Peschici.
In the years that followed its foundation Peschici passed from one lord to another and during Suevian domination was continually in disputes between the Empire and the Papacy, until it was almost destroyed by the Venetian fleet sent by Pope Gregory IX in 1239. Following this battle, Peschici was newly strengthened by Frederick II.
The port in Peschici was also dominated by the Serenissima Republic of Venice which controlled all the ports leading to the East.
There were numerous towers built around this region between the sixteenth and seventeenth century, but nothing could withstand the locusts and drought the scourged the long suffering population of Peschici until the end of the eighteenth century.
More recently and more importantly, the construction took place of the Garganic road and the connection with the aqueduct in Puglia. Recently Peschici was confirmed as one of the most important tourist centres in Puglia.