Situated on the Gulf, the port of Manfredonia is the southern gateway to the Gargano. Manfredonia has been inhabited since the times of the Dauina civilization. It was named for Manfred, illegitimate son of Frederick II, and during the height of the Crusades served as a bustling port, with knights and pilgrims leaving for the Levant. Much later, the town was noted in World War I documents as the first area of conflict launched on Italian soil. The Austrians bombed the rail station in 1915 in an attempt to block train travel from Foggia to Manfredonia. Today tourism is important to the economy and there are modern bathing resorts such as Siponto Lido dotted all along the coast of the Adriatic, known for its beautiful beaches. Agricultural production and the fishing industry continue to contribute greatly to the wealth of the town. Sites worth visiting include: the Castle Svevo Angioino, the National Archeological Museum of the Gargano, the Church of St Francesco, the Church of St Domenico, the Abbey Church of St Leonardo and the Cathedral of St Maria Maggiore which houses the splendid Madonna degli occhi sbarrati, worshipped by the faithful of Manfredonia.

Once you arrive in the town-centre, turn right and travel along Viale Aldo Moro to Piazza Marconi. Across the square, the Corso Manfredi leads to the Manfredonia Castello, built for Manfred and later enlarged by the Angevins. Other bastions were constructed in 1607 by the Spanish, who feared a Turkish invasion. Unfortunately, their fortifications didn't succeed and the Turks arrived in 1620. They destroyed much of Manfredonia, leaving only some of its former walls standing. Today the castle is home to the National Museum of Manfredonia (Museo Nazionale di Manfredonia, Via Castello Svevo tel. 0884-587838), open daily (except the first and fourth Mon of each month) from 9am to 7pm; it charges 2.50€ ($3.25) for admission. The collection includes archaeological remnants and items from the Stone Age collected from area villages. One of the most remarkable parts of the collection are the Daunian stelae. Stone slabs created to replicate the human form serve as a legacy of the Daunian civilization that settled in the region around the 9th century B.C. Three kilometers (2 miles) outside of the town is Santa Maria di Siponto, a church surrounded by pines that was once the site of the ancient city of Siponte. It was later abandoned after being ravaged by an earthquake and a plague. The church, dating from the 11th century, is in the Romanesque style with both Tuscan and Arabic influences.

There are also many religious celebrations, such as the procession of St Lorenzo, the Via Crucis, the procession of the Madonna del Carmine, the procession towards the sea of St Andrea, the procession of St Francis of Assisi. The popular festivals should not be missed, events such as the Fair of the Pizza Rustica and the Fair of the Ferrata.

43km (27 miles) NE of Foggia
119km (74 miles) NW of Bari
217km (135 miles) NE of Naples