Foggia

Introducing Foggia

Foggia’s name derives from its famous fovea (grain stores). Entering Puglia from the north you descend from Molise’s lush pastures to the sun-baked flatness of the Tavoliere plain, a golden wheat-producing expanse – though tomatoes are increasingly creeping into the picture – and into Foggia.

Frederick II (1194–1250) loved Foggia, and his heart was kept here in a casket until the massive earthquake of 1731 destroyed the town and most things in it. More destruction came during WWII as strategic airbases nearby became prime bomb targets. The damaged buildings were replaced by some gruesome 1960s architecture, though a kernel of medieval city remains in the centre.

Besides the 12th-century cathedral, there’s little to detain you here, though Troia and Lucera, nearby, are worth a visit.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009