Tremiti Islands: a dream paradise

The Trèmiti islands (or Diomedèe) are an archipelago of the Adriatic Sea, 22 km north of the Gargano promontory (Apulian coast) and 45 km east from Termoli (Molise coast). The archipelago consists of five islands: San Domino, San Nicola, Capraia, Cretaccio and Pianosa. The capital is San Nicola, on the homonymous island. The town is part of the Gargano National Park. Since 1989 a portion of its territory constitutes the Tremiti Islands marine nature reserve. The marine park of the Tremiti Islands is one of the most beautiful natural habitats in the entire Mediterranean. The rock of Cretaccio is one of the largest in the archipelago, and is located between San Domino and San Nicola; it is a rock of clayey nature, barren but very suggestive. A macabre legend tells that, on stormy nights, a screaming man appears on this rock with his severed head in his hand. It would be the spirit of a fugitive, beheaded in this place. The rock of the elephant, in San Domino, is a huge rock, about 20 meters high, whose shape resembles that of an elephant crouched with its trunk stretched out towards the water, as if it were drinking. The Badiali Castle is the only fortress present on the Tremiti islands, precisely in San Nicola; Its origins date back to the 13th century: the castle was built by Charles I of Anjou. Also in San Nicola it is possible to visit the tomb of Diomede, hero of the Iliad; legend has it that the hero is buried right here, and that Venus placed the Diomedes, companions of Diomedes transformed into birds, to watch over the tomb. The Diomedee, in fact, are a particular species of seagulls known for their singular cry like a cry. Finally, those lucky enough to visit the Tremiti Islands, cannot absolutely miss the Grotta del Bue Marino, near San Domino, so called because in the past it was the favorite refuge of the monk seal.