Between Vieste and Mattinata, along one of the most spectacular stretches of the Gargano coast, a silent sentinel hides: the Punta Preposti lighthouse. Situated overlooking the sea in the town of Pugnochiuso, this lighthouse-tower tells centuries of history and stands out as a symbol of resistance, memory and beauty.
The Pergola tower was built in the 16th century as part of a defensive system wanted by the viceroy don Pedro Afán de Ribera to counter the incursions of Saracen pirates. Its function, like that of the other watchtowers of the Gargano, was clear: to spot and signal with smoke and fire the arrival of enemy vessels. It was one of the 131 towers present in Puglia in 1748, built to protect the Kingdom of Naples.
Over the centuries, the tower has changed its face. In 1936 it was transformed into a lighthouse and activated the following year. Today, the lighthouse, 62 meters above sea level, has a light range of up to 30 kilometers and represents a fundamental reference point for navigation along the Gargano promontory. However, access to the structure is prohibited: the area is a military zone and protected by an inaccessible perimeter.
An impenetrable but fascinating place
This lighthouse rises above the Pergola bay, a small wild and rocky inlet without any establishments, perfect for those who love diving. The beach can be reached by a small road that starts from the provincial road Vieste-Mattinata. In Pugnochiuso, nature reigns supreme: white cliffs, deep seabeds and Mediterranean scrub accompany those who cross this stretch of coast that is still uncontaminated. A short distance away there are also places of great charm such as the splendid Cala della Pergola And that of Pugnochiuso.
The singular story of the lighthouse keeper
The Punta Preposti lighthouse is also the guardian of an extraordinary story: that of Maria Rita di Loreto, the only female lighthouse keeper in Italy. Hired in 1976 through a public competition by the Ministry of Defense, she lived for years in the white accommodation next to the lantern. Her presence marked a turning point in a world that until then had been dominated by men. Known in Vieste as “la marescialla”, she faced storms, fires, wild animals and even rescue operations during the Kosovo war alone. Her story also inspired the theater, becoming the protagonist of the play “La guardiana del faro”, with music by Nicola Piovani.
For those who wish to discover other similar places along the Gargano coast, it is also possible to admire the Tower of San Felice and the other coastal towers that dot the landscape between Vieste and Peschici.
