GUIDED TOURS BARLETTA- THE MYSTERIOUS GIANT AND THE ROMAN DEFEAT OF CANNE DELLA BATTAGLIA
TOUR DURATION: FULL DAY TOUR
GUIDED TOURS BARLETTA DESCRIPTION
Barletta is located on the Adriatic Sea, south of the Gargano promontory which can be identified from far, on the way to the Gulf of Manfredonia. Dynamic and lively, the city is certainly modern but preserves at the same time an important ancient feature; we will start our visit from the public gardens enclosing one of the most impressive star-shaped fortresses of the whole region: the Norman-Swabian Castle. Inside there is the only evidence of the Frederick II’s features: a stone bust strongly damaged but still considered a real treasure for the history of lands and cities conquered by the Swabians. Barletta was recognized in 2005 an art heritage city for its several important monuments: beside the castle, in fact we will find the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore in the Romanesque Apulian style of the 12th century, where the crypt conceals an even more ancient past; few steps away from it, we will come across the famous Cellar of the Challenge where in the early 16th century thirteen French knights got in conflict with thirteen Spanish knights for the domination of this part of Italy; also we will be delighted in visiting the district of the “seven streets”, with the charming Palazzo della Marra, hosting one of the most important collections realized by Giuseppe De Nittis, a famous Italian painter born in Barletta who marked with his paintings the art of the impressionism of the 19th century. Finally we will approach the Basilica of the Santo Sepolcro, testifying the passage of the pilgrims directed to the Holy Land, while right close to the temple we will find the mysterious giant of Barletta, the famous Colossus of Eraclio, one of the main symbols of the city. Few kilometers away from Barletta, our second visit of the day will be the archaeological site of Canne della Battaglia, the scenery of the greatest Hannibal’s victory on Romans in 216 b.C. The reorganization of the site dates back to the excavations made on 1999-2000; the first settlement of this hill which is 60 meters far from the Ofanto river dates back to the Prehistory and following the roman defeat, the area was abandoned: nowadays the most visible part belongs to the medieval village. A general overview of what has been brought to light so far will be possible going along the two main streets: the one close to the ancient walls and the one crossing the old city.
