Vieste is a very small town on the Gargano Peninsula (east coast of Italy) and the Adriatric. The primary feature of Vieste is the Adriatic coast. We took a several hour long boat tour along the coast on our second day in Vieste and that turned out to be the second best thing we saw in Vieste. Click Here to check out the Pre-Wedding Story below under What We Saw.
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This was one of the few times we had to walk very far to our hotel. We didn't, however, have to carry our bags. No big deal.
Bus Stop
BOAT TOUR ON THE ADRIATIC
The boat we took (dark blue) Adriatic Boat Ride, Vieste
On the boat Adriatic Boat Ride, Vieste
A fishing pier Adriatic Boat Ride, Vieste
Inside the cave Adriatic Boat Ride, Vieste
Inside the cave (the roof has collapsed) Adriatic Boat Ride, Vieste
Inside yet another cave with light showing from outside Adriatic Boat Ride, Vieste
On our full day in Vieste the group were together on a boat tour along the coast of the Adriatic. The tour lasted a couple of hours and you can see from the photos above that the views we spectacular. Check out the rest of the photos by clicking the More Pictures button below. We learned that, due to the type of rock (primarily limestone), there are an abundance of caves and other rock formations which are very picturesque.
You catch the boat down at the harbor (check the map above)...again just a short walk from the hotel.
A unique way of seeing the coast. Highly recommended.
Boat Tour on the Adriatic
MUSEO MALACOLOGICO
The owners of the Museum Museo Malacologico, Vieste
Describes the collection of the Purple dye Museo Malacologico, Vieste
The shell museum in Vieste is intriguing. There are literally thousands of shells on display. Entry is free and it is located a short distance from our hotel just off the nearby town square. The main reason we went to the museum was to see the special shells which contain the pigment that was used to dye garments red. From the description above:
The Purple
Among the resources that can be gained from mollusks, the dyes have always played an important part, especially in the past. Worth mentioning is the black pigment, that was won from the squids and that was used for the production of ink, or 'the purple' is extracted from the hypobranchial gland of the Murex brandaris, the Trunculariopsis trunculus or the Thais haemastoma. Main centres of production where in the cities of Tiro (France) and Taranto (Italy). During spring the intensive collection of the murex shell started and they were kept alive for some time in big weirs.
In order to start the recovery of the purple tint, an enormous number of molluscs had to be gathered, because each of them provided only 2 to 3 drops of the tint and the production of 1.5g required approximately 12,000 drops. This amount would just suffice to dye the yarn for the weaving of a handkerchief.
The shells of the Murex brandaris afterwards were utilised to isolate the floors against the cold from the ground. In Vieste huge amounts of these shells were found during the excavations for the construction of the Palazzo Comunale in 1924 in Corso L Fazzini.
Museo Malacologico via Pola 8 I 71019 Vieste, Italy Tel: 0884 707688
PRE-WEDDING CELEBRATION
The Bride and Groom
Pre-Wedding Celebration
A Final Tune Played by the Locals
After dinner and a stroll overlooking the ocean we headed back to our hotel. A short block from the hotel (it's marked on the map above) we ran into a group setting up what appeared to be a street party. Turns out it was for a pre-wedding celebration of one of the locals (he's identified in the picture above). The couple was getting married the following weekend. The bride and her family were staying in some rooms nearby and the groom (and a bunch of friends) wanted to welcome them all to Vieste. Ah...young love! BTW, you can see the bride and groom circled in the top picture or the first video having a discussion right under the Carpenter sign (back right about 1/3 through the video).
We also found the second video intriguing. The groom appears to be part of a local band. They brought out their instruments (he has the tuba) and played for the bride. Yup...John Philip Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever. I know you've all heard the song played before (I just listened to the US Marine Corp Band play it) and you've probably heard played...better? I agree. But I have to think that the march king would have been very proud to hear it that night. What a great way to celebrate the occasion.
BORGO ANTICO RISTORANTE
Looking to the front door Borgo Antico Ristorante-Pizzeria, Vieste
Outdoor seating across the street Borgo Antico Ristorante-Pizzeria, Vieste
This restaurant was a short walk from the hotel (out the door, left up the hill, up a set of stairs and a short distance after that). WE had pizza (the first of many in Italy). Pizza in Italy is great, but different from ours. The crust is thinner and the toppings are usually fewer. We had tomato sauce (not a lot), ham and mozzarella (several round chunks). Turns out they each have their own pies, we shared (that changed later). Good food, good location. Recommended.
Our second dinner together Dinner Hotel Seggio, Vieste
Our second dinner together Dinner Hotel Seggio, Vieste
Our second dinner together Dinner Hotel Seggio, Vieste
Our second dinner together Dinner Hotel Seggio, Vieste
Our second dinner together, Happy Birthday Bill Dinner Hotel Seggio, Vieste
Dinner at many hotels are not the best call. We enjoyed the dinner we had here. In addition to the great food, it was fun to get to know the people on our tour. We also had a small celebration for Bill's birthday (the final picture).
Hotel Seggio
HOTEL SEGGIO
Sunrise from our room Hotel Seggio, Vieste
Artwork near the dinning room Hotel Seggio, Vieste
Linda just outside the front door Hotel Seggio, Vieste
Lobby Hotel Seggio, Vieste
our room Hotel Seggio, Vieste
Sunrise from our room Hotel Seggio, Vieste
The hotel we stayed at was great. When you're on a tour there are times when you get the "best" room and times where you get the room that faces an alley. At this hotel both us and Jan and Jack had a room which overlooked the Adriatic. In my way of thinking this was two of the best rooms in the hotel.
Hotel Seggio Via Vieste 7 71019 Vieste Tel: 0884 708123 FAX: 0884 708727
