TOUR ITINERARIES
Discoveryng The Castles Of Puglia
Lenght: 192 km - page 1 of 2

CASTEL DEL MONTE

Our itinerary to visit the casles of Puglia starts from the stately and suggestive Castel del Monte. It os on top of a big hill on the beautiful Murgia area, very closed to Andria. It is 540 mt above sea level and it represent the most important model of architecture from the time of Federico II in Puglia.

The castle was built for the will of Federico II of Svevia in 1229-49. Its charming structure has Gothic-Romanc elements, but there expecially are Arab and Cistercian culture signs. Those two cultures were very appreciated by the Emperor and they think thet this castle, a symbol of Federico II’s ambition, was not built as a defence site but to celebrate his temporal power. The beauty of the building is amazing. It has an octagonal plan and eight octagonal towers. Between any pair of towers there are one and two lancet windows, in the fortalice curtain, and a frame that divides the two internal floors. Inside, even the wide yard has an octagonal plan. Climbing up a steep winding staircase, you get to the first floor. The stairs are covered and orned with polychrome marble and there are coral breccia windows, from which you can see a suggestive scenery that goes from the Tavoliere to the Murge.

TRANI

Going on for about 30 km, turning on the A14 motorway, we get to Trani, one of the most active seaports of Puglia. This is an important economic but expecially touristic centre, because of its old town rich of churches and stately palaces, and of its picturesque dock, from which you can see a lovely scenery over noble XVIII cent. buildings.

Photo of Paolo Digiuseppe

Also here you can see one of the many castles built in Puglia by Federico II. This one was built in 1233 and finished in 1249. It has a squared plan and it is one of the best examples of defence construction from the Svevian times, even though it was transformed by Carlo I, Carlo II of Angiò and Pierre d’Agincourt. Up to a few years ago it was a prison , but then it was restored and now it is possible to visit it.

BITONTO

Our itinerary goes on for about 36 km, first along the num. 16 highway and then on the A14 motorway till Bitonto, another flourishing town in the province of Bari.This is the capital of the famous olive oil of Puglia.

Along the little streets and white lanes of its old town centre, that has a trapezoidal plan, among valuable religious buildings, popolar houses and stately noble palaces, passing by the Baresana Door, in Piazza Cavour that used to be called Piazza del Castello, you can see a peculiar tower from the fourteenth century, that was built by the Angevins.

BARI

The following place to visit is the chief city of Puglia and its Svevian Castle. Driving for 15 minutes over 16 km, first along the num.98 and then num.96 highways, we get to Bari.

This city has very ancient origins. The first residential complex got popular in the Peucetian time and, after the Roman Conquest in the III cent. b.C., it became a remarkable road junction and an important maritime call.After the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire the city was invaded by the Ostrogoths and then conquered by the Byzantines in the VI cent. a.C. Around ‘730, it was ruled by the Lombards and then from ‘847 to ‘871 it was occupied by the Saracens and then, in ‘876, once more by the Byzantines. The city reached its best magnificence between the X and XI centuries, thanks to the work of some merchants. There was an urban and economic development of the city. Bari became the most important seaport of the region.

Some open areas allow to distinguish the medieval fortification from the XVI century one and there you can also see some Svevian elements such as: the Juvenile Tower, with its squared plan and a peculiar rectangular ashlar-work; the wonderful ogival portal and the characteristic entrance hall, with cross vaults on lovely columns, orned by precious capitels from the XIII century. Through the entrance hall, you get to the suggestive internal yard with Reinassance ornaments of the time of Bona Sforza. The upper floors wide halls are imposing. There are: wonderful two lancet windows with frescoes fragments from the XV cent., the remainings of an image of Federico II and some elements of the crib made by Stefano da Putignano. The provincial gallery of plaster casts is also very interesting, and it collects copies of the most important architectonic decorative works and sculputures
Of Puglia. In the stately castle, that under the Borboni reign was turned into a prison, since 1832 up to a few years ago, today many cultural meetings and interesting conventions take place.

Texts: Italiainrete - Pictures: Database and web

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