ART AND CULTURE
THE HISTORICAL CENTRE OF CISTERNINO
The historical centre of Cisternino is a great example of spontaneous architecture surrounded by nature that overlooks the beautiful valle d’Itria.
Cisternino is one of the most beautiful borghi in Italy, full of alleys, stairs, arches and flowery balconies, all painted in white of course.
At the entrance of the borgo the “Torre Grande” (big tower) welcome the visitors. This defensive structure is 17 mt high , and at on the top of it the statue of San Nicola, the patron of the village. Cisternino is one of the “slow cities”, a group of communities that works together to improve the lifestyle of their own inhabitants and visitors, sharing their knowledge about local food and wine trough the slow food network.
THE BEAUTY OF THE TRANI STONE
Trani, the pearl of the Adriatic, is definitely one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. The touristic harbour exalts the seafaring vocation since Federico II era, when the privileged position of the city helped the trade.The city is famous also because of the Romanic Cathedral that overlooks the sea and the peculiar type of marble, the Trani Stone, very easy to manipulate, it has been used since the ancient times, for decorative and aesthetic purposes.
THE SECRETS OF CASTEL DEL MONTE
This majestic construction in the territory of Andria is one of the most mysterious in Italy. Known as a fortification, it really doesn’t have the features of a military construction and it has been built on top of a hill, not a strategic position at all. Castel del Monte, a part of the Unesco heritage site 1996, commissioned by Federico II in the XIII century, it’s unique in the world and still a mistery.
However, what we know for sure is that its geometry is focused on number 8: the octagonal map resembles a square, symbol of the earth, and a circle, symbol of the endless sky; the courtyard walls are very high, and they symbolize a well, the medieval symbol of knowledge. Visiting Castel del Monte gives you the opportunity to make an introspective journey that you can’t miss.
MATERA: THE CITY DIGGED IN THE ROCKS
The “Sassi” are the oldest part of Matera and represent one of the most ancient housing unit in the world, and also the first site of southern Italy to be included in the Unesco list.
underground labyrinths, caves and a very unique landscape are the main characteristics of the two districts of Matera: sasso barisano and sasso caveoso. The “Sassi” were the heart of the rural culture, but we can still appreciate the beauty of what life used to be here, especially at night, when the lights make Matera look as a nativity scene.
ALBEROBELLO : THE TOWN OF TRULLI
The Trulli have 400 years of incredible history. they were built as temporary houses to make sure they could be destroyed in case there was an inspection ordered by the king, who wasn’t aware about those constructions.
Nowadays Alberobello is famous all over the world and heritage of unesco from 1996. Walking trough the alleys of rione aia piccola, the most authentic area of the town, it will be like going back in time, while in Rione Monti is possible to visit souvenir shops and panoramic terraces on the trulli. farther, but easily reachable, is the “trullo sovrano”: behind the Santi Medici Cosma and Damiano Church,it is the best example of two-storey trullo.
VISITING OSTUNI: THE WHITE CITY
“Ostuni is the panoramic city par excellence, every house is a lovely view, every trattoria is part of the Bellavista, for each window there is a poet who overlooks at the underlying land where the olive trees change their colours with all the winds (…) In Ostuni houses are white, of milk and lime, they are so white they hurt your gaze, candid are the walls, the windows, the doors, the stairs, everything is unrealistically white. (…) In Ostuni people go to catch the meaning of shelter from the sun (…) to end desiring novels, to end thinking about far travels, here there is the charme of the cities of the South seas, here there is the equator at your fingertips”.
(Ettore Della Giovanna, journalist)