You are in Mattinata, tired of lying on the beach. It sounds odd, I know, but let’s assume you’re one of those people pondering things to do in Gargano. If so, for example, you can do  a short  Monte Saraceno hike in Mattinata.  Along the way there are nice views, a Daunian necropolis, and the ruins of an something, probably an abbey, where people usually go back. But if you do the whole route, you can end up on the beach again.

How to find the Monte Saraceno Trail (Mattinata vs. Manfredonia)

Monte Saraceno is located between Manfredonia and Mattinata. From Mattinata you can theoretically walk along the road going by the sea, but it’s a long way, and sometimes there are annoying dogs, so it’s better to drive. Just go along Contrada Funni to the end of it. There’s a board with the map and stone stairs, i.e., the beginning of the Sentiero di Monte Saraceno. And since they’re stairs, it means you have to climb. And then go back down again.

How to Get to Monte Saraceno from Manfredonia

To do Sentiero Monte Saraceno in Mattinata from Manfredonia you need a vehicle; public transport in Gargano is a joke. Going from Manfredonia towards Mattinata, pass the first tunnel and turn right onto the road leading up. This old winding route is loved by cyclists and motorcyclists, so don’t be surprised if one suddenly jumps out in front of your car.

Gargano trekking trails attracts more and more people, and so does Monte Saraceno. I remember our first walk there; we were the only souls there, but it’s changing. Still, without GPS it’s difficult to know you’ve reached the place; the ‘helpful’ signs are a board and trees standing in the grass on the left side at the beginning of a beaten path. There’s no parking, so everyone leaves their cars wherever they can.

Daunian Necropolis of Monte Saraceno – A Bit of History

The name of the place comes from the Saracens, who settled there about 1,000 years ago. Before them, during the Bronze Age and the Copper Age, farmers in this land were Daunians who created Daunian civilization. Besides farming, they were busy digging tombs, so they left over 500 of them in Monte Saraceno.

The Daunian Necropolis of Monte Saraceno is not just tombs – these are quite nice (if tombs can be nice), sometimes with a quite precise shape, deeply carved in the rocks. Even if the rocks are limestone, making such pits without explosives must have been tedious and taken ages. I can imagine a Daunian sitting on a rock with a small tool in hand, poking a hole. And like that every day… 

Following the main path you will see a few, usually cave-tombs. Those more interesting (i.e handmade) showing that Daunian civilization was pretty advanced in tools, take one of several side paths and wander a bit in the rocky Gargano mountains. Beside the tombs, you can enjoy the sea view, weird plants, and a few small caves. 

Views from Monte Saraceno – Mattinata and the Gargano Coast

Sticking only to the main path, you’ll see a panorama of the white town of Mattinata nestled in greenery and the blue of the nearby sea… it’s quite a sight.

On the other side of the path, there are a lot of trees: some still stand, some old ones are lying on the slope. Their massive roots burst the rocks in whose cracks they grew and ended their lives. Poor dead trees; still, their roots look good in pictures. I suspect the best time for Monte Saraceno is spring, when the plants are green and many species of orchids bloom. Gargano is famous for having the highest concentration of wild orchids in Europe, so having a walk in Mattinta you can enjoy these beauties.

The ruins of Monte Saraceno

Theoretically, the main Monte Saraceno path ends at the ruins of the abbey (?), which has been being renovated (hopefully without the same effect as the tower on the way to Vieste). Theoretically, as the path continues down to Mattinata and its beaches.

How to Hike Down to Mattinata Beach

Generally, it’s easy, because it’s a downhill route. On the left of the abbey there’s another ruined building. Between them you can see a small path trodden in the grass; now there’s also a small board showing the way. There used to be crumbling wooden barriers; now it’s just a clear path with still  the sea view and other tombs hidden in the mountains.

The path is not difficult, but I hike a lot, also in much higher mountains, so my opinion is just mine, of course.

There are a few slightly more challenging sections (mainly the gaps between the steps/boulders of the stone ‘staircase’) – but that’s what our bottoms are for. You can always slide on them down and ensure your safety on the trail. However, the well-trodden path from the sign to the ruins doesn’t have any difficult sections; it just might happen some standing water after rain.

If you continue, after 10–15 minutes (even quicker) you’ll reach a viewpoint from which you can see the coast. Getting to the beach is simple: keep to the path, then the steps, and shortly you’ll be down. Between the rows of houses, look for the “spiaggia” or “lido” signs indicating the beach. And then all that’s left is to lie on the sand and laze around. But if you left your car up… hm.

Monte Saraceno Hike in Mattinata Worth Doing?

The Gargano massif is not high and, in my opinion, not mountainous enough (Abruzzo forever!), but actually pretty good if you want to hike, but not necessarily conquer peaks.

The majority of people do just a part of the path, i.e., to the ruins and go back which is still a cool easy hiking in Gargano. Last time we didn’t go down to Mattinata (I’ve already done it many times); we stayed up and wandered in the mountains above the main track, enjoying the merging blue of the sea and sky, some weirdly shaped rocks, lonely trees protruding here and there, and the silence.

Actually the views from the path are more interesting than the Daunian necropolis of Monte Saraceno. Of course they can attract ancient history lovers, people interested in Gargano nature, or just those who like not-too-tiring hikes. One would like to say that if the tombs were in another region of Italy, everything would be organized etc., well, probably it’s true. On the other hand, in contrast to the beaches in Gargano, neglected places like this one are still not crowded, so they are suitable for souls looking for some tranquility, nice views and blooming orchids. But remember, orchids are only in spring.

Practical Tips for Hiking Monte Saraceno

• Remember, if you start from Mattinata close to the sea, the path goes up.

• If you take just the main track, without any climbing, just normal comfortable shoes are okay.

• To hike around tombs and climb, wear trekking shoes.

• Hiking sticks can also be useful.

• I always have a bottle of water with me.