TOUR ITINERARIES
Discoveryng The Castles Of Puglia
Lenght: 187 km - page 1 of 2

ORIA

Our itinerary to discover the castles of Puglia starts from Oria, a town settled over the highest hills that in ancient times were coastal dunes. It is between Bari and Brindisi, on the northern side of the Salento area.

Because of its position, Oria had a great military, economic and commercial importance in the past. It was the real Messapic chief town and, before this, it was the town where the Japigian monarchy lived. This town got conquered by Fabio Massimo in 265 and, since that time, it was a Roman municipium and was under Cicerone protection.In Medieval times, like other towns of Puglia, Oria was often invaded and sacked. In 410 it was under the Gotes control and then it was run by the Greeks.
 In 547 there was Totila sack, while in 569 the Lombard invaded the town.In 751 it was again under the Byzantine control and in 880 it was run by the Lombard Duke Garitesio or Galderio. In 925 it was sacked by the Saracens, which were then expelled by Ludovico II of France. However, the Saracens got back and sacked the town once more in 977. In the same year, Oria was burned by the Aragens. In 1060 it was conquered by the Earl Maigerio of Altavilla and became first a Norman territory and then an estate belonging to Federico II of Svevia.
 We should also remenber that many jewish lived in Oria and so did other important people, like: Armittari and Silano (poets); Scepatia and Domolo (doctors); Chananel and Achimaaz (philosophers). Federico II had a great influence over Oria. He built the castle around which the history of this town developed.We can actually say that the life of the town and the life of the castle were the same thing. Its building started in 1227 and it was accomplished in 1233.The castle was built as a defence, because the Emperor considered Oria a strategic point of his reign.
 

FRANCAVILLA FONTANA

Francavilla Fontana is not that far from Oria and is settled 142 mt above the sea level. One of its peculiarities is its old town centre that still preserves,in all their architectonical beauty, the ancient doors and the beautiful Imperials Castle. The actual name of the castle was given to it by the family tha restored it in the XVIII century. It was built in the XVI cent. by the Balzo Family, Prince of Taranto.

Later it was enlarged. It has a rectangular plan, a shoe-shaped base, some angular towers, XVIII cent. portals, an orned four arcades loggia in a Baroque style and in the porticoed court there is a XIV cent. christening font made by Ferdinando Sanfelice, who also made the two-flights stairs to the Council Hall, where you can see many paintings,too. In the XVIII century this castle was used as a salt deposit because the owners had some salt pans between Torre Columera and Torre Cesarea. The Imperial Palace is also very interesting . It is in the town centre and has a stately and strong appearance that is a mix between a fortification and a luxury palace. The main church is also a stately building. It was built over the remains of an Angevin church and then rebuilt after an earthquake in 1743. The territory around the town centre is a famous touristic area because of the many masserie, of the peculiar Specchie and of the mysterious and charming caves. The exchange of this area with the acropolis one forms the base of the structure on the triangular hill, that has its base on the south and the top on the north and seems a vessel floating in the air. If you enter by a secondary door, assigned in the XVI century, in front of you there are the most powerful fortalices.

LATIANO

Thirteen kilometres away from Francavilla Fontana, our itineary takes us to Latiano, a town known because of its characteristic and picturesque windmill and of its stately castle. This is the most ancient building of the town. It was built in the XII century with a strategic aim on the highest point of the town , naer the old Via Appia.

In the origins it was surrounded by a ditch full of groundwater. The story of the fortification of the castle correspond with the town history.The nature of the castle water is considered the toponym of the word Latiano. It comes from the greek hara which means overflowing water, and from the latin latex, that is humour fount. As time went by, the castle was transformed from a fortalice into a private house. In 1724 it was restored by the Imperiali family. Latiano is also famous for its beautiful masserie, with closed yards and courtly buildings.

MESAGNE

Driving for only 8 km you can move from Latiano to Mesagne, a town over a little hill on the last strip of the Messapic plain. Mesagne old town centre is peculiar because of its triangular shape and there is the Granafei castle, a stately medieval building.

It was built in 1062 by Roberto il Guiscardo and the rebuilt twice: in 1256 by Manfredi, after the destruction made by the Saracens, and then in the XV cent. by the Orsini del Balzo family. In the XVII cent., it became one of the dwellings of the Baron.All that is left since Medieval times is a squared tower. The loggia instead, was built in the XVI century.

Texts: Italiainrete - Pictures: Database and web

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