Oria

With the earliest evidence dating back to the 2nd millennium B.C., Oria can boast a very ancient origin, over the years growing in importance until it became the capital of Messapia. Frederick II was particularly fond of this town, and the Castle with its triangular plan, three towers, well-preserved walls and extensive parade ground is linked to his figure and myth.

Enclosed within the walls, the historic centre can be accessed from Porta Taranto, also known as Porta degli Ebrei (in the 9th century, an important Jewish community settled there and played a fundamental role in the development of the city's literary and scientific fields) and from Porta Manfredi, beyond which one enters the heart of the centre. Amidst squares and narrow streets with a medieval layout, several stately palaces are worth a visit, such as the Sedile, Palazzo Martini Carissimo (home to the Messapian Documentation Centre, with archaeological finds from the area) and Palazzo Vescovile, which houses the Diocesan Museum. Nearby is the Cathedral, with its Baroque appearance, while the Sanctuary of Saints Cosimo and Damiano, not far from the centre, deserves special attention among the many churches that can be visited.

There is a packed calendar of events proposed by the municipality: the most important is the Historical Procession of Frederick II and the Torneo dei Rioni, a historical re-enactment in August in which the four districts of the town (Castello, Judea, Lama and Santo Basilio) compete for the Palio.