Foggia

Foggia, a city with a population of 155,000 inhabitants in the Apulia region, is situated in the middle of a plain called Tavoliere delle Puglie, a strategic location since it became an important road and railway hub. The town is made up of six boroughs and various districts. The rivalry among people living in the various districts is quite marked. Residents in the most ancient district of Foggia, Borgo Croci, are colled "crocesi". Foggia and the surrounding areas are well renowned for their religious buildings and sanctuaries among which there are the Santuario dell'Incoronata and dell'Iconavetere in Foggia, San Matteo and Madonna di Stignano in San Marco in Lamis. Three of them (Incoronata, San Matteo and Stignano) are part of the ancient religious path of the Via Francesca, linking all the most important sanctuaries in the Gargano area, i.e. San Michele and Santa Maria di Pulsano in Monte Sant'Angelo, San Leonardo in Manfredonia, San Pio da Pietrelcina in San Giovanni Rotondo. The most important sanctuary of Foggia is the Santuario della Madonna Incoronata, 8 km far from the centre. The story goes that a black Madonna appeared in the year 1001 to a little shepherd boy. Later the inhabitants of the area built the church here. Today the area is visited by many pilgrims.