Province of Foggia

The Province of Foggia is administratively divided into 64 Municipalities. The Parco nazionale del Gargano, established in 1995, is a peninsula partly mountainous and partly covered by the remains of an ancient forest, Foresta Umbra, the only remaining part in Italy of the ancient oak and beech forest that once covered much of Central Europe, and in the north are two major salty lakes, Lesina and Varano; the coastline is a sequel of greatly spectacular bays and cliffs, a paradise for summer tourism. Monte Gargano is also the site of the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to the archangel Michael, Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano. Another area of great beauty is the picturesque Tremiti island group. The province includes vast territories of intensive agriculture, in previous centuries largely used as pastures for the flocks coming in the winter months from Abruzzi, Molise, Irpinia and Lucania. Today is also a place of pilgrimage due to the presence of the sanctuary of San Pio da Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) in San Giovanni Rotondo.