Giardinetto Vecchio – Archaeology and Landscape

Giardinetto Vecchio is designated as an archaeological village in Orsara di Puglia. Its history encompasses two periods: an archaic phase dating to the 7th–6th centuries BC and a classical phase dating to the 5th–4th centuries BC.

Holiday apartment in Giardinetto Vecchio: history and architecture

The Borgo Giardinetto was planned in 1939 as a small rural village as part of the land reclamation works in Capitanata, based on a design by the architect Marino Lopopolo. The buildings constructed are grouped around a central square, which thus forms the architectural centre of the borgo.

A distinctive feature is the porticoes in Borgo Giardinetto. They connect the school building with the church and, due to their proportions and geometry, strongly resemble Roman aqueducts.

The historic building stock includes the former rural ONC village "Case del Fascio" in Località Giardinetto near Orsara di Puglia. It is associated with the status of an architectural cultural asset under Art. 12 of Legislative Decree 42/2004; the examination requested for this purpose took place on 27 March 2018. During the Second World War, Borgo Giardinetto served as a storage site selected by American troops.

On the left bank of the Torrente Cervaro, in Località Giardinetto near Orsara di Puglia, evidence of use dating from the Middle Neolithic was identified. In the wider Località Giardinetto, early layers containing Palma Campania-type pottery have been documented. A historic road section in the Orsara area, which joined the route between Aece and Ausculum at B.go Giardinetto, is known as the ancient Via Herculea.

Landscape, cycling route and nature

The Giardinetto Vecchio area lies on a gently undulating plain at the exit of the Torrente Cervaro valley, at approximately 300 m above sea level. Around 70 per cent of the local plain is covered by agricultural land used for cereal and fodder crops.

For active days, the "Orsara di Puglia – Cervaro Stream loop" cycling route starts in Giardinetto Vecchio. In the Orsara di Puglia area, Bosco Acquara also offers a biodiverse natural area with a gently running linear path for excursions and days outdoors.

Regional specialities and local traditions

Traditional foods from Orsara di Puglia include bread, wine, extra virgin olive oil, asparagus, honey and Cacioricotta. Orsara di Puglia also has a still-active straw oven known as the "oldest straw oven in Apulia". Bread has been baked in it since 1526.

An asparagus festival is scheduled to take place in Borgo Giardinetto on the second Sunday in June.

Other destinations you can explore for your planning include San Nicola Di Tremiti, San Severo, San Nicandro Garganico, Rodi Garganico, Motta Montecorvino, Volturara Appula, Foggia and Celenza Valfortore.

To the higher-level travel overview: Foggia.