Born around 1000, between 1086 and 1105 was the capital of a vast estate Norman, stands on a spur of the Gargano between woods and clear blue sea, lying on a rock of limestone full of caves and caverns, including in the famous cave dell'Arcangelo. According to the hagiographic tradition of the Archangel Michael appeared to the holy bishop of Siponto Lorenzo Majorano on 8 May 490; in appearance (called del Toro) the Archangel ordered the bishop of the cave to devote Christian worship in his name. Later he appeared again to the bishop Majorano in 492 and 493. In the end it appeared in 1656 the bishop of Manfredonia John Alfonso Puccinelli while the plague raged, dispensing grace and healing.
Faithful and enthusiastic devotees of San Michele is to remember the Longobards south of that in the seventh century to the cave raised their National Shrine. The sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel, has centuries of pilgrimage that started from Mont Saint Michel and across Europe through the Via Sacra Langobardorum. Nell'871 sacked by the Saracens, the Holy Cave, in the second half of the tenth century was attraction of direct Crusaders in the Holy Land, while the surrounding area was developed in the country. Of the town, worthy of note are: the fortifications of the Norman castle, extended by the Aragonese in 1494, with powerful cylindrical towers, (enlargement vintage Swabian) the walls and the fortress. In six hundred passes under the Kingdom of Naples and nell'Ottocento becomes part of the Kingdom of Italy. The walls of the XIII century, which is still partly visible, it is stored in discrete conditions until the end of 1700 when the expansion and construction of the changing socio-economicche have led to the emergence of neighborhoods that have changed l ' old fabric of the city.