E diary - Erasmus Plus KA2 - project meeting in Italy 4-11 March 2016

1. Day 1
Vico del Gargano is the place where our partner school is located. In the historical part of Vico del
Gargano, we admired beautiful sights and numerous historical monuments.
Vico del Gargano is a village and comune in the province of Foggia in the Apulia region of
southeast Italy. Called the "Village of Love", is part of the Gargano National Park and the Mountain
Community of Gargano.
The town is bordered by Carpino, Ischitella, Monte Sant'Angelo, Peschici, Rodi Garganico and
Vieste.
Sights of Vico del Gargano include:
 The square-plan Castle and the walls
 Church of the Carmine
 Mother Church (Chiesa Matrice)
 14th century church of San Marco
 Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli
In my opinion Vico has special architecture that is unique and encouraging to study history of this
place.
It was a great day, to visit and stroll narrow streets of this old town.

2. Day 2
At the beginning we visited Foresta Umbra, the National Park of Vico del Gargano. He is located
on Gargano peninsula in province of Foggia in Apulia region of Italy. This Park is so popular in
italy as National Park Yellowstone in United States. We discovered the history of the Park,
watched a lake that was in there and we set out further explore Vico del Gargano.
Then we visited a small town situated on a Gargano peninsula in eastern Italy - Monte
Sant'Angelo. We went to the cave of Saint Michael, where, according to legend, Archangel
Michael appeared to the residents. After discovered the cave we came to explore old city Monte
Sant'Angelo.
After that we came to discover Manfredonia and Siponto.
Manfredonia is a town and comune of Apulia, Italy, in the province of Foggia. Manfredonia is
situated on the coast, facing east, to the south of Monte Gargano, and gives its name to the gulf to
the east of it.
Siponto was an ancient port town of Apulia in southern Italy. We learned that the own was
abandoned after earthquakes in the 13th century.
After the sightseeing we returned to the hotel.
Agnieszka

3. Day 3
On Wednesday we visited Castle del Monte.
Some history:
Frederick II built the Castel del Monte, 17 km south of Andria because it was his favorite spot. This
is one of the most remarkable castles in Puglia. The building is an excellent example of Swabian
architecture. Frederick began to build in the fifth decade of the thirteenth century. He raised high,
lonely fortress centered around the octagonal courtyard, with two floors eight rooms. It remains a
mystery for today's primary use of the building. Probably not created for defense purposes.
Although it had previously lowered iron gate in front of the main entrance, otherwise we do not see
any traces of the fortifications. Perhaps he is playing the role of an ordinary hunting palace;
Mathematical precision design and an obsession with the number eight centuries, however,
intrigued writers and stimulate their imagination. Some say that the lock could be a huge
astrological calendar, as well, that Frederick was inspired by the octagonal mosque of Omar in
Jerusalem; but really what the purpose of the building, no one is sure. History recorded only one
case of practical use of the building. After losing by Manfred, illegitimate son of Frederick, at the
battle of Benevento in 1266 the sons and heirs of Manfred had been locked in here for thirty years
- the isolation of the castle had to give them a misery.

4. Next we visited village Aberobello.
“Alberobello is a small town and comune of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. It
has about 11,000 inhabitants and is famous for its unique trulli buildings. The Trulli of Alberobello
have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.
A trullo (plural, trulli) is a traditional Apulian dry stone hut with a conical roof. Their style of
construction is specific to the Itria Valley, in the Murge area of the Italian region of Apulia. Trulli
were generally constructed as temporary field shelters and storehouses or as permanent dwellings
by small proprietors or agricultural labourers. In the town of Alberobello, in the province of Bari,
whole districts are packed with trulli. The golden age of trulli was the 19th century, especially its
final decades marked by the development of wine growing.
In an 1897 photograph of the rione Monti (the district of the Mounts), the trulli are far less densely
packed than today, being surrounded by enclosed gardens.
The urban trulli still extant in Alberobello today date from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. After
having undergone a process of densification in the first decades of the 20th century, the trulli
settlements started being deserted in the second half of the 20th century
The rural trulli, on cheaper land, ceased to be built when the cost of labour began to rise in the
twentieth century. The sheer expense of handling the hundreds of tons necessary for a single
house became prohibitive.”

5. Before we began to explore the city, we went to the restaurant Il Trullo D'Oro, where we had a
delicious dinner. After the tour we went back to the hotel happy.
I think that, like me, others also loved this day. We saw a beautiful castle and cottages, buildings
like in a fairy tale.
Gabriela
Day 5
This day we had planned to visit Gargano Coast. We woke up very early. When we finished our
set we went down for breakfast. Waiters served us cappuccino and corrneti. Corrneti are Italian
croissant with fruit filling. After this such a good start of the day we had seen it will be best day! We
went out around seven a.m. from Maremonti Hotel. First objective was sightseeing coast. Firstly to
greet us white sheer slope which create wonderful view. When we joined at beach was only better.
We saw beautiful sun shafts upon buildings and water. In the distance we saw huge olive groves,
grapevine plantations with pinewood forest spilled at hills and valleys. After exhaustive sightseeing
we decided to go for solid meal. We had invite to Italian school IPPSAR E. Matei. When chef
making meal we goes to look over their school. We participated in show made for us. That one
was wonderful experience. After this attraction they ask to join ballroom. For side-dish was little
sandwich with caviar. Next was main dish. It was fish in rice shell with fresh vegetables salad as
well as great mandarin sauce. But we waited for dessert. We waited very long. We thought. It
turned out that was only 2 minutes. Waiters gave us tart moistened brandy with whipped cream
and ice-cream in pyramid form with cherry sauce. In my view the most delicious was dessert.
When we part with chefs we went to Vieste and Peschicci. They are little cities in coast cut in

6. calcareous rock. All building are white and when sun goes down it the best view in world. From all
place is wonderful view. Tired but happy we return to hotel. We ate dinner. After we were talking
with other guys and played games. In late night we went to bed. It was the best day for now. We
make new friends and visited best places in peninsula Gargano.
Bartek
Day 6
Thursday was the latest day of sightseeing. Our early riser- Gabrysia woke us up. We started day
with visiting
Matera. We were there at 9.00 am o'clock. Matera is a very old town. There was historic
tenements, caves and many stony stairs.
We went down this stairs and visiting. Around this city was valley and hills. There were very
beautifull landscapes.
We had some time to take photos and admire views. After sightseeing we went to the shopping
centre and ate there lunch.

7. When shopping time was close we went to the bus and drove back to the hotel. We were singing
all the way back. When we reached destination we had to say goodbye. Many of us were crying,
because it was hard to bid farewell.
Eliza