Mattinata

Mattinata is a famous seaside resort town and comune (municipality) in the province of Foggia, Apulia, southern Italy.
The only town in Apulia facing south the Adriatic sea, Mattinata is part of the Gargano National Park (Parco Nazionale del Gargano). The main urban area is located above two hills enclosed by mountains in the northern, western and southern sides. The town faces eastward a plain (Piana di Mattinata) facing the Adriatic sea.
The northern coastal part is known for its chalky white cliffs, its large number of suggestive sea caves and, above all, for its two Faraglioni located in the Zagare Bay area. The area surrounding Mattinata is also a popular destination for botanical experts, due to the existence of around 60 different species of orchids.
The first humans to settle in the area were tribes of Eastern European origin, mainly from Greece and the Balkans (Iapyges), which populated the surrounding areas since the 5th century BC.