A tour of the imposing castles and cathedrals that dominate many ancient villages is an opportunity to explore also the wonderful nature of the province.
Bari, cultural crossroads since ancient times, is an ideal starting point. A city where two souls meet: the old town, surrounded by an imposing wall and crossed with narrow streets that lead to the discovery of its rich heritage, and the modern city, built at the beginning of the 19th century and gone through changes over time.
Along the perimeter of the old walls, one comes across the majestic Castle commissioned by Frederick II of Swabia, with a spacious inner courtyard, where today gatherings and events take place. A wonderful example of Apulian Romanesque architecture is the imposing Basilica di San Nicola (Saint Nicholas Basilica), where the holy relics of the famous saint are kept.
The sober and bright façade, flanked by two towers of different shape and height, has three portals that give access to the interior naves, where important works of art are kept. The second most important church in Bari is the Cathedral, flanked by a tall bell tower and built on layers of previous ancient buildings. A finely decorated rose window and three portals give movement to the main façade. The interplay of volume and space, and the light seeping through the large openings and reflected off the stonewalls, create an evocative atmosphere inside the church. The new town, whose project was planned by Gioacchino Murat, is criss-crossed with shopping streets like Corso Cavour, where the famous Teatro Petruzzelli (Petruzzelli Theatre) is located, considered the temple of opera in Bari.
The southern part of the province borders on a strip of the gorgeous Itria Valley, known as the land of the trulli. Alberobello, home of these characteristic conical buildings symbol of Puglia, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the surroundings, Locorotondo, whitewashed village on a rocky spur overlooking the marvellous scenery of the valley, during springtime turns into an explosion of colours and scents. A patchwork of vineyards, olive groves, woods and fields outlined by whitewashed dry stone walls, whose uniformity is broken by small conglomerations of trulli.
Today the trulli, in strict respect for the ancient tradition, are equipped with all modern comforts and represent an original alternative to classic hotel rooms to spend one’s holidays. The old part of the town in Locorotondo deserves a visit: surrounded by its town wall, it is criss-crossed by narrow alleys among quaint whitewashed houses enlivened by colourful floral displays adorning the balconies.
The journey continues with a visit to Conversano, a small town that has been able to protect its historical and cultural identity without renouncing the advantages of modern times. An imposing Castle overlooks the city, with four large towers located by the angles of the trapezoidal plan, in the direction of the cardinal points. Built as a defence structure, the Aragonese turned it into a manor house with external and internal building works aiming at softening its lines and shapes. The Galleria Municipale (Municipal Gallery) housed in the premises interesting artwork displays. There are also numerous religious buildings, such as the Cathedral, in Apulian Romanesque style.
Also interesting is the architecture of the old town centre of Putignano, known for the famous carnival, and Castellana Grotte, known for the evocative underground caves.
On the coastal strip, there is the old village of Polignano, located on a sheer cliff overlooking the sea with numerous natural grottoes and caves, and also Monopoli, one of the best coastlines in the province, scattered with ancient farmhouses, villas and the remains of ancient civilizations.
To the north of Bari is located Ruvo di Puglia with one of the most renowned Cathedrals in the region, famous for the peculiar architectural lines, the result of a series of harmonious alterations and restorations. A visit to the Museo Archeologico Nazionale Jatta (Jatta National Archaeological Museum) is a must with its exhibition of a precious ancient collection of ceramics and paintings. In the Murgia of the shepherds, where the landscape leaves the warm colours of the maquis and takes on the dark tones of a bare terrain, there is Altamura, known mainly for a bread that has been awarded its own appellation status DOP. The town can be spotted on a spur overlooking the plateau, with the Cathedral towers standing out against the sky, as though to attract the visitor’s attention. Commissioned by Frederick II of Swabia, the church has undergone important transformations, such as the construction of two towers to the sides of the façade, instead of bell towers which traditionally complete the structure of religious buildings.
Finally yet importantly, an interesting stop on the journey is Gravina di Puglia, a land of natural galleries, caves and ravines dug by an underground river and in the past used as shelters by man.