Monti Dauni
Encyclopedia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
with Molise
Molise
Molise is a region of Southern Italy, the second smallest of the regions. It was formerly part of the region of Abruzzi e Molise and now a separate entity...
, and take their name from the ancient Dauni Italic tribe.
They are bounded northwards by the Fortore
Fortore
The Fortore is a river which flows through the provinces of Benevento, Campobasso and Foggia in southern Italy. It has a length of 110 km....
valley, eastwards by the Tavoliere delle Puglie
Tavoliere delle Puglie
thumb|300px|The Tavoliere seen from the [[Gargano]] promontory.The Tavoliere delle Puglie is a plain in northern Apulia, southern Italy, occupying nearly a half of the Capitanata traditional region. It covers a surface of c...
, southwards by the upper Ofanto
Ofanto
The Ofanto, known in ancient times as Aufidus, from the Greek Ophidus, Ωφιδους, meaning snake, is a 170 km river in southern Italy...
valley. The chain is formed by sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
terrains, and is the source of a series of small streams which flow through the Tavoliere into the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
. The highest peak is the Monte Cornacchia, at 1,152 m.
Historically, the Monti Dauni area has suffered a substantial depopulation in the last decades, due to their relative isolation. They include 21 comuni
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
, all in the province of Foggia
Province of Foggia
The Province of Foggia is a province in the Apulia region of Italy.This province is also known as Capitanata, originally Catapanata, because during the Middle Ages it was governed by a catapan, as part of the Catapanate of Italy...
, which form two mountain communities (Comunità Montana dei Monti Dauni Settentrionali , with seat at Casalnuovo Monterotaro
Casalnuovo Monterotaro
Casalnuovo Monterotaro is a town and comune in the province of Foggia in the Apulia region of southeast Italy.The town is located in the Monti Dauni. It was founded in 1446 by Slavic immigrants from the opposite sea of the Adriatic Sea....
, and the Comunità Montana dei Monti Dauni Meridionali, at Bovino
Bovino
Bovino is a comune and hilltop town at the foot of the Irpinia mountains in the province of Foggia, in the region of Apulia/Puglia.Bovino is currently a member of the Italy's Most Beautiful Villages Club.- History :...
).
Highest peaks
| Mount | Altitude |
|---|---|
| Monte Cornacchia | 1,152 m |
| Monte Saraceno | 1,145 m |
| Monte Crispignano | 1,105 m |
| Toppo Pescara | 1,078 m |
| Monte Sidone | 1,061 m |
| Monte Vento | 1,056 m |
| Monte Pagliarone | 1,030 m |
| Monte Tre Titoli | 1,030 m |
| Monte San Vito | 1,015 m |
| Monte Stillo | 1,010 m |