In addition to the Dauni people it is believed that another population arrived in Daunia from the Balkans, the Dardani, coming from the ancient region of Dardania, in Illyria.

The hypothesis arose after the discovery of a cult area dedicated to the goddess Eca (Acca Dea), within the territory of Accadia. In the town hall is exhibited an ancient sacred stone depicting the goddess.

Sant'Agata is called the spy of Puglia because, thanks to the 360 ° view, it is able to control the whole area. It was for this reason that Frederick II, among the many fortified villages that he had destroyed, decided to spare Sant'Agata. He made it a fundamental point for controlling the region and it was at his castle that the neighboring municipalities had to pay taxes (it seems it was the emperor himself who chose the castellans).

The area around the village of Sant'Agata is dotted with huge wind turbines.

Present in all the Dauni mountains due to the constant presence of winds, Sant'Agata is one of the largest wind farms in Italy. The production of clean energy has allowed the region to be at the forefront of the use of renewable energy. The presence of wind turbines remains at the center of a lively debate: some argue that they ruin the landscape, others are fascinated by these modern windmills.

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The Monti Dauni are characterized by the sinuosity and the sweetness of the reliefs. In this stretch of the Cervaro valley, there is a more inaccessible area made of caves and canyons, where traces of prehistoric settlements have been found.

In particular, the walls overlooking the Frugno stream form the Gole di Accadia, a succession of small waterfalls and inlets.

Along the trasonne, typical narrow streets of Sant'Agata, it is possible to come across Radici, the street art work of the photographer Alessandro Tricarico. On the walls hang the photographic portraits of the old people of the village: the pristine work shows the roots of the village and creates a sense of pride and identity in the inhabitants, allowing the culture to "make its way".

The castle of Sant'Agata was so important that, during the Norman period, the city was called Castellania.

Of Lombard origin, placed in control of the Calaggio valley, it was spared from destruction by Frederick II and first came under Angevin and then Aragonese control. During the Aragonese period, the Orsini family modified the structure of the fortress, transforming it into a residential palace. Since the 17th century, the castle has been used only occasionally; in recent years it has undergone important restoration and renovation work.

The village of Sant'Agata develops with a spiral starting from the castle in a maze of streets and alleys, characterized by arches, turrets, and bell towers. To amaze most of all are the coats of arms that dominate almost all the doors of the village. The noble coats of arms, each characterized by a different symbol, are a real cultural heritage that constitutes the Parco Urbano delle Opere di Pietra; in the past, every family commissioned their own coat of arms to local artisans, where they depicted the faces of their ancestors, sacred Christian or pagan images, the symbol of their profession ...

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On 5 February, during the celebration of the patron saint Sant'Agata, unleavened bread in the shape of breasts called Agatine are distributed to the houses: tradition has it that Sant'Agata suffered the amputation of the breasts as a martyrdom.

The torcinelli (migliatiérre) are rolls made of intestines and stuffed with entrails, cheese, rosemary, parsley, mint, garlic, and pepper - or sausage.

They are cooked on the grill, or in the oven with potatoes and lampascioni or, again, with meat sauce.

B&B L’antico Monastero, in Sant’Agata di Puglia. Tel. +39 375 510 2321

Agriturismo Sant'Arcangelo, 2 km from Sant'Agata di Puglia (the owners offer a free shuttle service). Tel. +39 0881 984499

Starting point reachable by car.

Starting point reachable by bus from the city of Foggia.

Here the LINK to check the timetables.

Starting point NOT reachable by train.