A maritime and port city, Manfredonia is one of the main municipalities in the province of Foggia. It is located in the Gargano National Park and its name comes from Manfredi of Sicily, son of Emperor Frederick II, who built the town to accommodate the inhabitants of nearby Sipontum, which was attacked and destroyed by the Saracens.
Among the main attractions in Manfredonia is definitely the Cathedral, named after San Lorenzo Maiorano and built in the Gothic style at the end of the 13th century. Also very interesting is the Basilica of St. Leonard, which was part of an abbey complex of the Teutonic Knights, as well as the Church of St. Dominic in Piazza del Popolo, commissioned by Charles II of Anjou and inhabited by Dominican friars until 1620.
Also of enormous charm is the Swabian-Angevin-Aragonese Castle, the construction of which is also due to Manfredi of Sicily. Today its interior houses the National Archaeological Museum. Its rooms display ancient artifacts from the Manfredonia area and the Sipontine lagoon. The highlight are the Daunian stelae, stone funerary monuments spread by the Dauni civilization.
When talking about Manfredonia, however, one cannot fail to mention its port, which plays an important role from an economic and tourist point of view. Along the coastline of more than 20 km there are many free beaches and bathing lidos, as well as camping and tourist villages for those who like to live in contact with nature.