Trani - Barletta - Andria - “Giovanni Mucci” Confetti Museum - Castel del monte

Route: Bari - Trani - Barletta - Andria - “Giovanni Mucci” Confetti Museum - Castel del monte - Bari
Duration: 8 h
Our first stop we will make at the city known as the 'Pearl of Puglia', beautiful Trani has a sophisticated feel and particularly in summer. The main sights to see in Trani are the cathedral and the castle. It was built in the 12th century and like many of the buildings in Trani is built in the local white limestone. It is  Romanesque in style and its main portal also has Moorish influences. To one side of the cathedral is a large square belltower which can be visited for views over the town and Adriatic sea. The interior of the cathedral is very simple and appealing with some fine Romanesque capitals. The crypt under the cathedral is filled with ancient columns and houses the bones of St Nicholas the Pilgrim for whom the church is dedicated. Behind the cathedral it also has a picturesque historic old town with medieval buildings and palazzi. Wander through the limestone-paved streets and squares and enjoy the quiet elegance. During the visit you will see the other main site in Trani is the castle which was built by Frederick II in the early 13th century. The Castello di Trani was built on the model of the Crusader Castles in the Holy Land, in their turn strongly influenced by the Roman castrum, and is square in shape, reinforced in the corners by four square towers, all of the same height. The Ognissanti church was built in the 12th century by the Knights Templar and is where they swore allegiance to their leader before setting off on crusade. It was the chapel for the Knights Templar hospital, also you will see the Jewish quarter with four synagogues, the Monastery of Santa Maria Colonna or the public gardens at Villa Communale. Next we will visit to Barletta is a pretty big town located on the seaside where we'll walk around the streets of Barletta's old town, discovering history and legends . Our tour we will begin at Swabian Castle where you have time to admire Swabian Castle, and can discover the origins of the castle and the history of Emperor Frederick II.  From the castle, we will take you to visit the cathedral, an example of Romanesque architecture. Here you will be able to admire the architecture, as well as some detailed stone decorations of the cathedral. Also you will know about the "Disfida di Barletta", a fight fought between 13 Italian and 13 French knights, which ended with the winning of the Italians and next we finish our city tour by admiring the fascinating Colossus of Barletta. During the visit you will see  the Swabian Castle, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore, Via Duomo and the maritime village, the Disfida's Cellar, Eraclio, the giant of Barletta. Next we will visit to the “Giovanni Mucci” Confetti Museum set up in the confectionery factory of the same name, founded by Nicola Mucci in 1894. During the visit you will know about reach history of the factory and tast some kind of sweet specialty, also you can buy the original sweets. Next we will visit to the tucked away in Andria  the most famous castle of Italy. With its iconic octagonal structure, the medieval military fortress has set the stage for countless stories that are still told today. So famous is the castle, that it had even earned a place on the back of the euro 1 cent piece . The story of Castel del Monte in Andria is linked to Frederik II, who in 1240, gave the order to construct a fortress in Santa Maria di Monte Castro, completing his network of defensive castles. Castel del Monte then became the permanent location of Frederik II’s court, who after just three years, became the King of Sicily. The monarch, nicknamed “Stupor Mundi” for his eclecticism and vast culture, imbued all the mystery of his person into the unique castle. In 1996, UNESCO declared the castle a World Heritage Site, describing it as “a successful blend of elements from classical antiquity, the Islamic Orient and north European Cistercian Gothic.” After we return to Bari.
Price: per person