Faeto, the village of the beeches

In the heart of the Alta Valle del Celone, Faeto is one of the most fascinating and distinctive medieval villages of the Monti Dauni in inland Puglia. Lying on the border between Puglia and Campania, it surprises visitors with its authentic atmosphere of silence, nature and age-old traditions. The historic village of Faeto is a place where culture, landscape and memory still live in balance. Its territory, set among Monte Cornacchia (1,151 m), the highest peak in Puglia, Monte Perazzoni (1,060 m), Monte San Vito (1,015 m) and Monte Castiglione (959 m), makes Faeto one of the highest villages in the Monti Dauni.

Surrounded by over 150 hectares of beech, oak and Turkey oak woods, Faeto offers wide views over the valleys of Daunia and routes immersed in nature, ideal for lovers of slow travel and of the walking routes of the Monti Dauni, such as the Via Francigena del Sud. The Bosco Difesa, with its springs and trails among centuries-old trees, is one of the most authentic symbols of the area.

The history of Faeto and Franco-Provençal culture

Faeto’s history goes back to the 13th century when, according to tradition, a group of soldiers in the service of Charles I of Anjou, coming from the Franco-Provençal area, settled here. From that settlement grew one of the region’s most distinctive cultural identities: the community still preserves the Franco-Provençal language and traditions, which Faeto shares with Celle di San Vito, the only two Franco-Provençal communities in southern Italy.

Nature, traditions and authentic flavours of the Monti Dauni

Walking through the historic centre you find narrow lanes, stone arches, old doorways and glimpses that tell the story of the village and its medieval architecture. Faeto’s stone houses, together with the Mother Church of the Santissimo Salvatore, convey the simple, authentic soul of the village.

Between nature, culture and traditional flavours, Faeto offers an experience made of small details to immerse yourself in, local traditions and typical products such as the famous Faeto ham, a symbol of the food and wine of the Monti Dauni and of Puglia.