A week in Gargano, Italy
Saturday 11 to Saturday 18 April
The relatively unspoilt heart of Gargano away from the coasts has outstanding wildlife especially orchids but also other interesting plants and birds. A small bus will meet participants arriving by air at Bari. The first three nights will be in Rodi at the Hotel Villa Americana on the north coast, and the final four in the Palace Hotel San Michele, Monte Sant’Angelo, in the south. In the north there may be Paeonia peregrina, the rare endemic Ophrys montis-gargani, the recently described Anacamptis berica, and Ophrys apulica. On the third day the group will go west to Carpino. Highlights there can be Ophrys promontori, Iris bicapitata, Ophrys biscutella, Neotinea intacta. Stops give fairly easy access to sites near the road, mainly with gentle slopes or on the level.
The next day members transfer from Rodi to Monte, via Vico and Foresta Umbra, with luck seeing Orchis provincialis and Ophrys bertoloniiformis or bertoloni. There is also a glorious beech forest which will have its stunning new leaves and there’s a chance of seeing the White-backed woodpecker. Having settled in the southern hotel, the next day will have minimal driving, with a visit to a sanctuary where there are impressive cliffs, and botanically it’s very rich, with views down to the Adriatic. Highlights: Orchis lactea, Ophrys promontori, Ophrys sipontensis and many more. The sanctuary is a beautifully restored Medieval monastery. On Day 6: a drive west toward San Giovanni Rotondo, then south to the Ruggiano area. There will be stops for Tulipa sylvestris, Iris pseudopumila, Iris bicapitata, Ophrys sipontensis, and Paeonia mascula. And irises, with luck.
Meals will be picnics or in restaurants, or in the hotel. There is the wonderful medieval town with the prototype of the local cave churches, There are even runes carved by Christian Vikings. On one of the final days, the group will go up to the Chiancate, with some of the highest parts of the plateau, lovely karst landscapes with many orchids and other plants. We’ll drive west again toward San Giovanni, and turning up just before that sprawling (and not very attractive) pilgrimage town, we’ll come back driving a loop via San Marco in Lamis. Most walks are easy, except the last when some will walk up from the main road to Monte Nero (about 100-150 m ascent along an easy track, mostly on tarmac), and the place is extremely beautiful. Ophrys virescens, Paeonia mascula, Narcissus poeticus, Orchis pauciflora, Dactylorhiza romana.
The cost per person is expected to be between £850 and £950 (sharing a room) with a supplement of about £150 for single occupancy. The fee includes guiding, local transport, accommodation and most meals (excluding drinks other than water) but there will be two free evenings in Monte Sant’Angelo for members to choose where to eat from the interesting possibilities. Please apply now and a more accurate price will be provided when we know the number of participants.
Booking Form
Please note that MPG events are open to members of MPG and its sister organisations only.
Bank Transfer
By bank transfer with reference GARGANO
Sort Code 40 40 32
Account 5161 4002
Account name: Mediterranean Plants and Gardens
IBAN GB63 HBUK 4040 3251 6140 02
Euros
For those wishing to pay in euros, payment can be made directly into our euro account. If you wish to pay by this means please contact the treasurer, David Mason, for an exchange rate and payment instructions. If paying from a bank in the euro zone into our euro account, this can be done with minimal bank charges provided you use a SEPA (Single European Payments Area) payment method.