Starting from a budget hotel with parking, this route will take you around the coastal edge of the Gargano National Park. There are many hairpin bends and twisty roads and countless views of the Adriatic Sea. The Park preserves an extraordinary concentration of different habitats: rocky coasts, the big and hot southern valleys rich in rare flower and wildlife species. As far as wildlife is concerned, the peculiarity of the promontory is given by the presence of the roe deer and several kinds of woodpeckers. Great-spotted Woodpecker, Middle-spotted Woodpecker, Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, and Lilford's Woodpecker - (the Lesser-spotted and Lilford's Woodpeckers are very rare and live in Italy only in protected areas). The centre of the park is covered by Foresta Umbra, this forest was part of the original forest of the Gargano promontory and contains many large specimens. Today, Foresta Umbra is still the most representative area of the Gargano hinterland. One of the main reasons of the park establishment is without a doubt the presence of important wetland areas declared Biotopes of Community Importance, like the lagoons in Lesina and Varano. The wetlands of Gargano and Capitanata have always raised the interest of scientists and tourists for the different environments they offer and for being situated in a strategic position on the migratory routes of aquatic birds between Africa and central-eastern Europe.

The coastal road is beautiful to travel on, you will see many defensive Saracen watchtowers that form part of a 16th-century coatal defense system used to spot invaders. There are several towns that you'll pass through, all unique but all connected by the glistening Adriatic Sea. Rodi Garganico is one of the citrus fruit capitals of the Gargano region: together with Vico Garganico and Ischitella, the town is famous for the production of the sweet Gargano oranges.
You can visit the town of Vieste, known as the Pearl of the Gargano for its magnificent beaches and crystal-clear waters, it preserves an almost wild nature in its high cliffs and sea caves set along the coastline. at the far end of the town you'll find an imposing limestone monolith standing 25 metres high that almost seems to stand guard over the town. This is known as Pizzomunno and has a tale of eternal love and mystery associated to it, look it up.

The route will thrill you all day as you twist and turn to follow the coastline. I have suggested a lunch stop aabout halfway at 'Trattoria La Montagna Pizzeria' to sample a wood fired pizza.

After lunch the route leaves the national park and heads down through the wetlands and salt production areas between Manfredonia and Margherita. Salt is produced here on an industrial scale and white mountains can be seen as you pass by. The Margherita di Savoia Salt Pans are the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world after the Bolivian salt pans. A protected area since 1977, the nature reserve Salina di Margherita di Savoia covers a total area of 4,500 hectares, with 4,000 hectares covered by water, including salt evaporation ponds.

The route then joins the SS16 Autostrada to take you to a budget hotel on the outskirts of Bari.
Links to both the start and end hotels can be found below this review.
Enjoy