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NORTH AND WEST OF ALBEROBELLO To the north-west of
Alberobello the city of Bari, the second largest in
southern Italy, is reached in about an hour. A
starting point for a visit is the town's norman
castle, Castello Svevo.
Bari's nearby old
centre has many mediaeval buildings including the
Romanesque basilica of San Nicola which is
splendid inside and out. The Duomo is currently
undergoing renovation, but promising to look very
smart when finished. The centre also contains
numerous other churches. Bari has two main
museums - the Archaeological museum, and the
Pinoteca Provinciale. The Pinoteca is devoted
mainly to paintings from the 11th to 19th
centuries by southern Italian artists, and
contains an excellent range of works, on the 4th
floor of the Palazzo della Provinzia down the
waterfront from the centro storico.
Along the coast
from Bari to Barletta there is what is regarded
as the richest architectural heritage on the
Adriatic south of Venice. The Terra di Bari
cathedrals are in a local style known as
Apulian Romanesque. Trani's is perhaps the most
impressive and beautifully located by the sea.
But Barletta, Bisceglie
and Molfetta, and Bitonto
and Ruvo di Puglia a little
inland, all are worth a visit. To find these open
will mean an early start, as most churches and
cathedrals close from 12 midday to early evening.
The most-visited
monument in the area is the Castel del
Monte, a huge octagonal castle founded
by the Normans.
THE SALENTINE
PENINSULA
To the south and
east down the Salentine peninsula there are
various points of interest in addition to some
fine coastal routes and beaches. A day could be
reserved for visiting Lecce, an easy drive down the
dual carriageway from Fasano (about 100
kilometers).
Lecce has been
called the Florence of the Baroque, although this
may be misleading in terms of the quantity and
variety, if not quality, of buildings on display
. Although it has remains dating back to Roman
times and beyond, including the town-centre
amphitheatre and theatre, the elegant city is
chiefly known for its opulent Lecce Baroque style
of architecture. Of the churches the main point
of interest is Santa Croce, although others can
be equally or more interesting for their
interiors. The Piazza del Duomo, including the
Duomo itself, palazzos and a seminary, is
spacious and impressive. A little away from the
centre the older, Romanesque Norman church Santi
Nicola e Cataldo is worth seeking out near the
north-west "Naples" gate of the old
city walls. To the south is the Museo
Provinciale, containing both archaeological and
topographical collections and a picture gallery.
Because of church and museum opening times
(churches close at 12, museum at 1pm) an early
start is necessary if you intend to cover the
town in a morning. Santi Nicola e Cataldo closes
at 11 and should perhaps be visited first. Or
plan for morning visits, a long lunch break and
more late afternoon sightseeing.
If time allows, a
detour on the way back can be taken to the south
coast. The road south from Lecce passes by Galatina,
with a Franciscan Basilica of remarkable
interior, to the picturesque coastal town of Gallipoli.
There is then a choice of the scenic coast road
up to Taranto, or the inland wine tourist route.
Between Lecce and Taranto the town of Manduria
has some important and interesting remains of the
Messapian civilisation which was eventually
overrun by the Greeks. The area is nowadays
better known for its vineyards.
Brindisi,
a provincial capital and important ferry port
across the Adriatic, has a small historic centre
and a Romanesque church of particular merit.
Special
Interest
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