Barletta

BARLETTA

Barletta is North of Bari, opposite the Gargano promontory and at the mouth of Manfredonia

harbour. It will become part of the new BAT province in 2008, together with Andria and

Trani. Founded in pre-christian times, Barletta was first developed in the 6th century

when the inhabitants of Canosa escaped there from the destruction of their own town.

During Norman rule, Barletta became an important stopping place for the Crusades and the

trade that they brought to and from the Holy Land. The town’s period of greatest

prosperity, with the construction of a powerful merchant fleet, was under Angevin rule,

and is famous worldwide for the “Barletta siege” during the Spanish-French war in the

early 16th century.

A main attraction for visitors to the town is the sea, with a long sandy coastline

comprising beaches and hotels, ideal for families and children.The Swabian Castle is

definitely worth a visit, built on the order of Frederick II and based on an existing

Norman fortress, now the base for the civic museum, picture-gallery and municipal library.
Other places worth a visit are the colosso Eraclio, a large bronze statue, and the nearby

S. Sepolcro Basilica, built in the 12th century, displaying interesting Oriental

influences.

Sites of particular historical interest include Palazzo della Marra, a stunning 16th

century Puglian palace and, a few kilometres outside town, the Canne di Battaglia

archaeological site, where the Roman army and Hannibal’s troops clashed in 216 BC.
An unmissable performance is the historical re-enaction of the “Siege of Barletta” that

took place on the 13th of February 1503, when 13 French knights led by Guy de La Motte

were challenged to a duel by 13 Italian knights led by Ettore Fieramosca. Each year, in

the summer, thousands of tourists from all over Europe come to see the historical

re-enactment, in costumes, of the knights’ oath, taking to the arms and tournament ending

with the Italian victory.

Fonte: Regione Puglia