Going for a walk?

A visit at the castle of Lagopesole, one of Frederick II's castle, which is also one of the best preserved. Leggi in italiano A road sign: “LAGOPESOLE” “We’re near Lagopesole . If there’s time, do you want to go there? “What’s in Lagopesole?” “ Frederick II’s castle . It’s one of the last he made built and also one of the best preserved.” “Erm…let’s see…”

Versione italiana If there’s a historic period that I prefer, it’s the one of Middle Ages , in particular linked with Apulian history, when it was governed by the very famous Frederick II , also known as the Stupor Mundi   or the Puer Apuliae. No surprise especially for this last nickname, as it seems that Frederick fell in love with Apulia when he visited it in 1221 ( and how could we blame him?) and saw this land rich in woods and rivers. Considering that the region was and still is  in a strategic position, it was not a surprise that in 1223 the sovereign moved the capital of his kingdom, the Kingdom of Sicily, from Palermo to Foggia. Let’s say it, this interesting man did a lot for Apulia: that was one of the most prosperous period of this territory. He stimulated the agri-food production with the spread of massarie regie, trade and communication inside the kingdom thank to a castle network. Here, castles , perhaps the thing of that period that has reached us t...

Versione italiana After Andria and Barletta it’s the turn of Trani . Here too, there’s a castle made built by Frederick II, perhaps one of the most relevant, seen its importance from a strategic point of view, but also because you can appreciate its original structure. This time I’ve not been guided, but I showed the beauties of Trani to an American friend, a monk (you’ll understand later why this detail is necessary) who was in Apulia for a wedding. You know, we seized the moment. Unlike the castle of Barletta, which has been built on a Norman building, that one of Trani was thought and made built by Frederick II . It’s located in the roadstead of Trani, that is to say, in a lower area compared to street level, on a bedrock directly over the sea. It may seem strange, but this position was optimal to protect the castle, if you consider that the seabed is also quite low, and it could become a danger for ships, which risked to run ashore. Practically, the environme...

Versione italiana "Many many years ago, in a land between the sea and hills, there were a castle, a jealous king and a beautiful princess penned in a tower".  How many tales may begin in this way. But the story of Bianca  Lancia , the woman loved by Frederick II and mother of three of his children, isn't a fairy tale. A happy ending neither, but it represents one of the darkest and the most dramatic events that tradition links to the Stupor mundi. There aren't certain sources, but a chronicle of that time, the father of Bonaventura from Lama, tells this. Bianca Lancia, the emperor's young lover, lived in the castle of Gioia del Colle , pregnant with Frederick's son, Manfredi, when an accusation of betrayal questioned the paternity of the baby. The emperor, mad with jealousy, ordered to close the woman in a tower of the castle until she gave birth to the child. When he was born, the resemblance with the sovereign freed Bianca from any doubts. But t...

C’è un momento, quando ripenso a Palermo , che non dimenticherò mai e che riaffiora tutte le volte che si nomina questa città: quando vidi per la prima volta la Cattedrale di Maria SS. Assunta . La gente intorno a me accalcata nella via, decisamente troppo stretta per tutte quelle persone, e all’improvviso la visuale si apre. Non c’è tempo per tirare un sospiro di sollievo per lo spazio ritrovato, perché lo spettacolo che si pone davanti lo toglie di nuovo. Sembra un’oasi, che trasporta in un luogo sospeso tra Oriente e Occidente , al cospetto di uno dei gioielli di Palermo.

Versione italiana Here we are at the last stop of our itinerary about Frederick II. We are in Bari , in the periphery of its historical centre, where there's the castle . You're not aware of its presence until, going out from the street that runs along the Palace of Justice, you find it in front of you with its spare-shaped bastion framed by the trees that decorate the boulevard next to its walls. During the period at the university, I never stopped to appreciate properly how this image was majestic and made me open my eyes wide, leaving me speechless. As some of the other castles seen previously, also this one was born on the ruins of a Norman castle and  withstood some changes with the succession of centuries and sovereigns. The bastion I was talking before, for example, is the result of the changes made in the XVI century in order to defend in a better way the castle on the land side from possible canons and other fire guns attacks, exactly the same princi...

Versione italiana Now, it’s the turn of the castle of Barletta, another of the famous forts of Frederick II that were part of castle network , which we talked about in the previous post.  For this visit I had the good company and guide of a friend from Barletta, a guy who transmitted to me the love for his town while he was accompanying me to the discovery of the historic centre.  Seeing a place through the eyes of those who live it and appreciate it, in my opinion, is the best way to discover it. Back to the castle, nowadays it's the focal point of the life of Barletta , especially during summer.  Just think of that fact that it faces the sea and during the hot season a walk along the promenade is a  rule.   Leaving back the streets of the historical centre and overstepping the bell tower of the Cathedral, the vision of the fortress opens in front of you, solid and impressive, one of those buildings that just looking at them make ...

An itinerary to visit Oria in Summer and to attend one of the most known events of the town. In this walking tour we'll discover and get lost among the beauties of the old town centre of Oria In the past, it was among the richest and the most important centres in the area of Brindisi. Frederick II built one of his castles here, in order to control better his territories in  Salento . It’s  Oria , a little town that caught my attention with an event that is held in the second week of  August , an event that calls all re-enactment and medieval joust lovers. I’ve been in Oria for the first time because I was attracted by this celebration, the Torneo dei Rioni (the tournament of the districts) and today I suggest you a little itinerary , a walking tour , to be added to this event, to dive in a highly engaging medieval atmosphere that you can breathe in the alleys of the old town centre. Leggi in italiano

I’ve started to know Bari when I was at the university. Studying tourism, my academic path included experiencing Bari from a tourist point of view. In this way I discovered the major attractions of this town. Since then I’ve walked many times in Bari with friends who actually are from Bari and others who didn’t know the town at all. In the latter case I was their guide and I noticed that I suggest always the same itinerary to those who are in Bari for the first time in order to give them an overview of the town. Most of the time this itinerary is completed in one day . If you are curious to know what I suggest to see to those who are in Bari for the first time, stay with me and let’s get started!

I’ve always thought that it’s not necessary to make long journeys to define yourself a “traveller” or to make great discoveries. On the contrary, it often happens that staying near your home you can be surprised by what you meet. Every day life makes you forget that around you there is so much to discover and to learn and sometimes it’s good to venture yourself with the eyes of a tourist in places that you “know”. I’ve passed through Gioia del Colle so many times while going to Bari since when I attended university until nowadays and just recently I managed to visit it and to give a name to those monuments the I saw from the road.   And to think it’s just a half an hour by car far from home. The historic centre of Gioia del Colle dates back the 9 th century and still nowadays it keeps its original conformation. Many alleys snake and connect around a focal point, the Norman-Swabian Castle. Visiting this place in the Land of Bari is an excellent way to spend a morning in...

  August 15th is a day that Italians traditionally spend on a day trip. Here 5 suggestions to take a day trip in Apulia on "Ferragosto". What are you going to do on August 15 th ? Maybe you don’t know why I’m asking you this question, but in Italy this is a particular day. It’s a feast day and this question become a mantra a bit for everyone. We think about what to do, where to go, how to spend this day. Traditionally Italians spend it having a day trip . For this blogpost, I thought about some places where to spend August 15 th near my home place, Massafra, near Taranto, in Apulia . I took the map and analysed the neighbourhood and that’s the result. The chosen places are maximum an hour far from Massafra by car, so, if you are here or you live here, you can give them a chance. Or better, let me know if you already know them and have already been there!

È il luogo più a est d’Italia, la porta verso l’Oriente. Fiorente città marinara, era tra le più importanti di Puglia per il commercio con il resto del Mediterraneo al punto che gli stessi Romani la inserirono nelle loro arterie di comunicazione. Oggi è un importante centro turistico che incanta con la sua bellezza e ricchezza culturale e naturale. È Otranto .