Other sights in Puglia
-
A
Museo Archeologico Provinciale Ribezzo
The superb Museo Archeologico Provinciale Ribezzo was substantially expanded in 2009 and now covers several floors with well-documented exhibits (in English) including some 3000 bronze sculptures and fragments in Hellenistic Greek style, terracotta figurines from the 7th century, and Roman statues and heads (not always together).
reviewed
-
Cathedral
The 11th-century Romanesque cathedral is situated south along Via delle Crociate. It was built over the original Byzantine church, and still retains its basilica plan and Eastern-style cupola. The severely plain walls are punctuated with deep arcades and the eastern window is a tangle of plant and animal motifs.
reviewed
-
Museo di Cività Preclassiche della Murgia
The Museo di Cività Preclassiche della Murgia, in the Convento delle Monacelle, is most famous for the 25,000-year-old star of the show: Delia. She was pregnant at the time of her death and her well-preserved skeleton was found in a local cave.
reviewed
-
B
Cattedrale di Sant’Agata
In the centre, on the highest point of the island Gallipoli, is the 17th-century baroque Cattedrale di Sant’Agata, lined with paintings by local artists. Zimbalo, who imprinted Lecce with his crazy baroque styles, also worked on the facade.
reviewed
-
Castle
Frederick II’s enormous castle, shows just what a big fish Lucera once was in the Puglian pond. Built in 1233, it’s 14km northwest of Lucera on a rocky hillock surrounded by a perfect 1km pentagonal wall, guarded by 24 towers.
reviewed
-
Scolanova Church
Scolanova Church was one of four former synagogues in the ancient Jewish quarter. They were all converted to churches in the 14th century. Inside is a beautiful Byzantine painting of Madonna dei Martiri.
reviewed
-
New Town
After battling the crowds in the trulli zone you may need a break in the relative sanity of the new town. The best time to come is the early evening when everyone is out for the lively passeggiata.
reviewed
-
Museum and Nature Centre
There is a small centro visitatori (visitors centre) in the middle of Foresta Umbra that houses a museum and nature centre with fossils, photographs and stuffed animals and birds.
reviewed
-
Roman Amphitheatre
Lucera’s 1st-century-BC Roman amphitheatre was built for gladiatorial combat and accommodated up to 18,000 people. It’s undergoing restoration so check if it’s open at the tourist office.
reviewed
-
Ognissanti Church
The 12th-century Ognissanti Church was built by the Knights Templar. Here Norman knights swore allegiance to Bohemond I of Antioch, their leader, before setting off on the First Crusade.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
C
Museo Teatro Romano
A small Roman theatre was uncovered in the 1930s – a neat little arc hemmed between buildings. This contains the Museo Teatro Romano, with well-preserved russet-coloured Roman mosaics and frescoes.
reviewed
-
Chiesa di San Francesco
Dominated by a huge rose window, the contemporaneous Gothic Chiesa di San Francesco incorporates recycled materials from Lucera’s 1st-century-BC Roman amphitheatre.
reviewed
-
Cathedral
On the site of Lucera’s Great Mosque, Puglia’s only Gothic cathedral was built in 1301 by Charles II of Anjou. The altar was once the castle banqueting table.
reviewed
-
D
Colonna della Giustizia
The Colonna della Giustizia (Column of Justice) is the place where debtors were tied and lashed
reviewed
-
Farmacia Provenzana
Farmacia Provenzana is a beautifully decorated pharmacy dating from 1814.
reviewed
-
Santa Maria di Leuca
reviewed
-
-
Grotte di Castellana
Don’t miss the spectacular limestone caves, 40km southeast of Bari, and Italy’s longest natural subterranean network. The interlinked galleries, first discovered in 1938, contain an incredible range of underground landscapes, with extraordinary stalactite and stalagmite formations – look out for the jellyfish, the bacon and the stocking. The highlight is the Grotta Bianca (White Grotto), an eerie white alabaster cavern hung with stiletto-thin stalactites.
reviewed
-
Parco Nazionale del Gargano
reviewed
-
E
Temple of Poseidon
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Spiaggia Azzurra
reviewed
-
-
-
Fontana Antica
reviewed
-
Chiesa di Sant’Irene
reviewed
