Pane di Monte Sant'Angelo

Pane di Monte Sant'Angelo is a distinctive bread from the town of Monte Sant'Angelo in the Gargano area of Puglia, known for its particular characteristics, such as a soft yet crunchy crust and a dense, soft interior. The bread is traditionally made from hard wheat flour, water, natural yeast, and salt. Extra virgin olive oil is also sometimes included. The entire preparation process is manual, from mixing and shaping the dough to baking it in a wood-fired oven. Historically, the loaves were quite large, weighing 5 to 6 kilograms and measuring 70 to 80 centimeters in diameter. Today, the loaves come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 20 to 100 centimeters (8-40") in diameter, and the crust's thickness ranges from 2 to 5 millimeters (1-2").