Trabucchi

Trabucchi, old tools used for fishing, have become over the years the symbol of the coast of Gargano.

Vieste has dedicated to its symbol the Trabucchi Festival, an event that people there look forward to seeing and that is usually held in the second half of June.

What are Trabucchi?

These are structures of structural wood - which was also used in the construction of old houses -, built by hand and formed by a skeleton made up of wooden outstretched rods, to which are attached mesh networksIt is these networks, known as “trabocchetti“, to name the structure. A “trabucco” is actually a fish trap activated strictly by hand, thanks to the presence of side gears through which these nets fall into the sea.

Once upon a time, the “trabuccolanti” or keepers of trabucco, had the task of monitoring the structure and the state of the sea currents. At a proper time, they ordered to operate the winches and get the fishing started.

Today, Trabucco is still used, but only as a hobby. Certainly, one can not say that it has lost its representative value. The Trabucco of Vieste, once a key element of the economy of the town, remains today a symbol of the culture and tradition of it.