Mattinata is located not far from the coast between Manfredonia e ViesteThe current town is relatively recent and was formed around 1700, when shepherds and farmers coming mainly from Monte Sant'Angelo they began to settle where the Roman city of once stood Matinum, in the typical rural houses called "to pay”, giving rise to the first inhabited nucleus of the village immersed among the olive groves.
The village of Mattinata
Nicknamed “the butterfly” for its ancient butterfly-shaped plant, Mattinata has as its oldest part the district June, the lowest historic core of the town. Here you can still see some traditional dry-stone buildings, which tell the story of the village's rural and pastoral origins.
Mattinata, in fact, has a different history than other, older towns in the Gargano: it did not originate as a large, fortified medieval village, but as a small agricultural settlement that slowly grew between the countryside and the coast, maintaining a very authentic identity to this day.
The most beautiful beaches and bays in Mattinata
One of the main reasons to visit this location is its beautiful beachesThe Mattinata coastline is among the most scenic in the Gargano, alternating white pebble bays, luminous cliffs, and a transparent sea.
Among the best known is the Mattinatella Beach, a long stretch of light-colored gravel overlooking a clear, deep sea. A little further on lies one of the most iconic spots on the entire Gargano coast, the Zagare Bay, famous for its two stacks and the spectacular white rock face that slopes down towards the Adriatic.
In the surrounding area there are also other very suggestive corners, such as Vignanotica, on the border with Vieste. This stretch of Gargano is among the most photographed in Puglia due to the contrast between the pale rocks, vegetation, and deep blue sea.
Among the most pleasant experiences in the surrounding area there is also the Path of Love, a short panoramic route immersed in the Mediterranean scrub that reaches the bay of Vignanotica. 
It is one of the most picturesque stretches of the coast between Mattinata and Vieste, ideal for those who love walking among Aleppo pines, the scents of the Gargano, and spectacular views of the sea.
Monte Saraceno, Monte Sacro and the views of the Gargano
Among the most interesting places to see in Mattinata there is undoubtedly the Mount Saracen, the promontory that dominates the bay and offers one of the most beautiful views of the Gargano coast. In addition to its scenic value, this place is also important from a historical and archaeological point of view: here, in fact, there is a vast Dauni necropolis, with rock-cut tombs dating back to between the 9th and 3rd centuries BC
photo in the article by Gargano Natour
To the north of the country is the Sacred Mountain, where the remains of the ancient stand Abbey of the Holy TrinityImmersed in nature, this medieval Benedictine abbey still retains a very special charm, among arches, stone walls and silence. Monte Sacro is also known for the presence of numerous spontaneous orchids of the Gargano, which make this area even more fascinating in spring.
