Manfredonia (Italy)

Manfredonia is an Adriatic Sea cruise port and town in Italy's Foggia Province (Apulia region), with population around 57,000. Manfredonia has 3 ports (docking facilities, all located near downtown) - Molo di Levante Marina, WEST PORT Marina, and Marina del Gargano (the largest, with capacity 700 slots / boat berths and allowing mooring of boats and superyachts with max LOA length 50 m). As cruise port, Manfredonia was for the first time included in the Emerald Yach Cruises schedule of the newbuild top-luxury ship Emerald Azzurra (2021-launched).

The area was initially developed as a Greek colony. In the late-2nd-century AD, it was conquered by the Roman Empire and started to develop as a shipping trade port (Sipontum). The current-day Manfredonia was built in the mid-13th-century, at the location approx 10 km north of Sipontum. In 1620 the town was almost completely destroyed by the Ottoman Empire (1299-1923). Of the original settlement, today remain only the castle (additionally walled in the 15th-century) and part of the city walls (very well preserved). Other best-known tourist attractions include Chiesa di San Domenico (chapel adorned with 14th-century paintings), Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore di Siponto (12th-century built domed cathedral), Duomo di Manfredonia (late-15th-century cathedral dedicated to St Laurence of Siponto), Abbazia di San Leonardo in Lama Volara (a Teutonic Order-owned abbey in Siponto, approx 10 km from Manfredonia).

Next tables shows Emerald Azzurra's 7-day Adriatic itinerary visiting ports in Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.