San Menaio
Encyclopedia
San Menaio also San Menaio Garganico, is a seaside resort and a frazione
of the comune
of Vico del Gargano
in the province of Foggia
in the Apulia
region of south-east Italy
. The 2001 census counted a resident population of 193 (93 males, 100 females) in 97 family units.
It is a seaside village of rare beauty that unfolds between Rodi Garganico and Peschici
, 6 km north of Vico del Gargano along the coastal route of SS89 freeway.
Known for its long sandy beach and for the forests of Aleppo Pine
s—among the oldest and largest in Italy—which cover the territory and penetrate the village up to the fringes of the beach, it owes its fame in great measure to the early twentieth-century writings of Nicola Serena di Lapigio.
area. In ancient age here had spread the cult of Cassandra
and of the goddess Mena
(from which San Menaio). Tradition tells that it took so much effort by Benedictines first settlements in the area of San Menaio to wipe out idolatry
and to change old temples in churches, enlivened with the names of saints and Christian martyrs.
The name of the place is, according to another historical tradition, more widespread and remembered by Giuseppe D'Addetta, to be traced back to the story about the apparition of Saint Menas
, Arab holy warrior, who saved the inhabitants from Saracens attacks.
In the contemporary era San Menaio saw his popularity rapidly increased, especially in the sixties and seventies, becoming a place of elegant and exclusive resort and holidays, and passing, unfortunately not without exceptions, trough innumerable attempts development abuses that have undermined the sobriety of urban plan, which consists mainly of villas with gardens blend perfectly in the orography
of the coast.
In those years Italian artist Andrea Pazienza
stays here and finds inspiration from the beauty of this places. San Menaio Eastern Waterfront was recently named in his honour.
from the historical center, built around the river and the medieval tower
.
The land, hilly, offers a more linear profile nearby the town and moving along the coast towards East terrain
becomes more rough near the district
called Valazzo, which marks the eastern boundary of the country. Continuing to east coast rises up to tens of meters and then suddenly become flat at floodplain of Calenella.
The geology of the sites is typically Karst, with sediments fossil
dating from Cretaccio and more recent flood plains and beaches at . Hydrography
, although minimal in the rest of the Gargano, consists of two short seasonal torrents crossing the country.
Even the flora
is not uniform: the coast near the town border with Rodi Garganico presents almost exclusively orange trees (infiltrated by olive
inwards); on western side hills are covered by an extensive forest of conifers (Aleppo pine
), the Foresta Marzini.
very light and golden color.
.
of the Supervisors), a spectacular fortress overlooking the sea with functions of defense and customs, which breaks the linearity of the promenade between the old town of San Menaio and the recent elegant residential neighbourhood
called "Murge Nere" (Black Rocks) because of the presence of two huge monolith
s of dark rock outcropping from shore.
The Church of St. Anthony of San Menaio, simple and austere, dates back to 1600. Situated in a panoramic position, was converted from a chapel
in a parish
only in the last century.
, the main economic source of the site, has seasonal characteristics, and an international medium-high level target. The sector has received an incentive in 2009 with the opening of the nearby port "Marina di Rodi Garganico". San Menaio is also known for fervent trade citrus DOP "Blonde Orange of Gargano" and "Lemon Femminello of Gargano" with America and European Union.
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
of the comune
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Vico del Gargano
Vico del Gargano
Vico del Gargano is a town 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.-Geography:...
in the province of Foggia
Province of Foggia
The Province of Foggia is a province in the Apulia region of Italy.This province is also known as Capitanata, originally Catapanata, because during the Middle Ages it was governed by a catapan, as part of the Catapanate of Italy...
in the Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
region of south-east Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The 2001 census counted a resident population of 193 (93 males, 100 females) in 97 family units.
It is a seaside village of rare beauty that unfolds between Rodi Garganico and Peschici
Peschici
Peschici is a town and comune in the province of Foggia in the Apulia region of southeast Italy.Famous seaside resorts, its territory belongs to the Italian National Park of Gargano and to the Comunità Montana del Gargano.- Geography :...
, 6 km north of Vico del Gargano along the coastal route of SS89 freeway.
Known for its long sandy beach and for the forests of Aleppo Pine
Aleppo Pine
Pinus halepensis, commonly known as the Aleppo Pine, is a pine native to the Mediterranean region. Their range extends from Morocco and Spain north to southern France, Italy and Croatia, and east to Greece and northern Tunisia, and Libya, with an outlying population in Syria, Lebanon, southern...
s—among the oldest and largest in Italy—which cover the territory and penetrate the village up to the fringes of the beach, it owes its fame in great measure to the early twentieth-century writings of Nicola Serena di Lapigio.
History
The history of San Menaio is mixed with the mythology that characterizes the folk tradition for centuries in the GarganoGargano
Gargano is a historical and geographical Italian sub-region situated in Apulia, consisting of a wide isolated mountain massif made of highland and several peaks and forming the backbone of the Gargano Promontory projecting into the Adriatic Sea. The high point is Monte Calvo at . Most of the upland...
area. In ancient age here had spread the cult of Cassandra
Cassandra
In Greek mythology, Cassandra was the daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. Her beauty caused Apollo to grant her the gift of prophecy...
and of the goddess Mena
Mena (mythology)
Mena It is alleged that in Roman mythology, Mena was the goddess of menstruation. However, this cannot be traced through any document from Ancient Rome. Mena is referenced as "the goddess who supervises women's periods" by St...
(from which San Menaio). Tradition tells that it took so much effort by Benedictines first settlements in the area of San Menaio to wipe out idolatry
Idolatry
Idolatry is a pejorative term for the worship of an idol, a physical object such as a cult image, as a god, or practices believed to verge on worship, such as giving undue honour and regard to created forms other than God. In all the Abrahamic religions idolatry is strongly forbidden, although...
and to change old temples in churches, enlivened with the names of saints and Christian martyrs.
The name of the place is, according to another historical tradition, more widespread and remembered by Giuseppe D'Addetta, to be traced back to the story about the apparition of Saint Menas
Saint Menas
Saint Menas , the Martyr and Wonder-worker, is one of the most well-known Egyptian saints in the East and the West, due to the many miracles that are attributed to his intercession and prayers...
, Arab holy warrior, who saved the inhabitants from Saracens attacks.
In the contemporary era San Menaio saw his popularity rapidly increased, especially in the sixties and seventies, becoming a place of elegant and exclusive resort and holidays, and passing, unfortunately not without exceptions, trough innumerable attempts development abuses that have undermined the sobriety of urban plan, which consists mainly of villas with gardens blend perfectly in the orography
Orography
Orography is the study of the formation and relief of mountains, and can more broadly include hills, and any part of a region's elevated terrain...
of the coast.
In those years Italian artist Andrea Pazienza
Andrea Pazienza
Andrea Pazienza , was an Italian comics artist and painter.- Life :Pazienza was born in San Benedetto del Tronto, province of Ascoli Piceno , in 1956....
stays here and finds inspiration from the beauty of this places. San Menaio Eastern Waterfront was recently named in his honour.
Geography
The town of San Menaio occupies an area nearly three kilometers long and 900 meters wide, developed mainly along the coastCoast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
from the historical center, built around the river and the medieval tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
.
The land, hilly, offers a more linear profile nearby the town and moving along the coast towards East terrain
Terrain
Terrain, or land relief, is the vertical and horizontal dimension of land surface. When relief is described underwater, the term bathymetry is used...
becomes more rough near the district
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
called Valazzo, which marks the eastern boundary of the country. Continuing to east coast rises up to tens of meters and then suddenly become flat at floodplain of Calenella.
The geology of the sites is typically Karst, with sediments fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
dating from Cretaccio and more recent flood plains and beaches at . Hydrography
Hydrography
Hydrography is the measurement of the depths, the tides and currents of a body of water and establishment of the sea, river or lake bed topography and morphology. Normally and historically for the purpose of charting a body of water for the safe navigation of shipping...
, although minimal in the rest of the Gargano, consists of two short seasonal torrents crossing the country.
Even the flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
is not uniform: the coast near the town border with Rodi Garganico presents almost exclusively orange trees (infiltrated by olive
Olive
The olive , Olea europaea), is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the...
inwards); on western side hills are covered by an extensive forest of conifers (Aleppo pine
Aleppo Pine
Pinus halepensis, commonly known as the Aleppo Pine, is a pine native to the Mediterranean region. Their range extends from Morocco and Spain north to southern France, Italy and Croatia, and east to Greece and northern Tunisia, and Libya, with an outlying population in Syria, Lebanon, southern...
), the Foresta Marzini.
Beaches
There are four beaches along the coast of San Menaio. All face north-northwest, they are characterized by a fine sandy bottom that has a grainGRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
very light and golden color.
San Menaio Beach
It is a long, typically fine sandy beach, which stretches from west to east for more than 2.5 kilometers from Murge Nere to Valazzo. Wide in some places more than 60 m, is largely equipped and bordered by waterfrontWaterfront
-In music:*Waterfront , a 1980s British pop duo*Waterfront Records, an Australian record label*"Waterfront" , by Simple Minds*Waterfront Blues Festival, in Portland, Oregon-In film and television:*Waterfront , directed by William A...
.
Monuments and places of interest
Worthy of note is the fourteenth-century tower called "Torre dei Preposti" (TowerTower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
of the Supervisors), a spectacular fortress overlooking the sea with functions of defense and customs, which breaks the linearity of the promenade between the old town of San Menaio and the recent elegant residential neighbourhood
Neighbourhood
A neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
called "Murge Nere" (Black Rocks) because of the presence of two huge monolith
Monolith
A monolith is a geological feature such as a mountain, consisting of a single massive stone or rock, or a single piece of rock placed as, or within, a monument...
s of dark rock outcropping from shore.
The Church of St. Anthony of San Menaio, simple and austere, dates back to 1600. Situated in a panoramic position, was converted from a chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
in a parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
only in the last century.
Economy
TourismTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, the main economic source of the site, has seasonal characteristics, and an international medium-high level target. The sector has received an incentive in 2009 with the opening of the nearby port "Marina di Rodi Garganico". San Menaio is also known for fervent trade citrus DOP "Blonde Orange of Gargano" and "Lemon Femminello of Gargano" with America and European Union.