One of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the area and repeatedly awarded the Blue Flag, Bisceglie offers an enchanting coastline characterised by wide beaches and coves such as Cala Pantano, a wetland with a small natural inlet, or the Ripalta Caves.
Its historical centre is among the most evocative and fascinating in the area. Getting lost in its narrow, tiny alleys is a pleasure that is repaid even more by the view of the magnificent harbour on one side and the superb Romanesque cathedral on the other.
The Thermal Baths of Margherita di Savoia are one of the most complete and prestigious thermal establishments in central-southern Italy. The thermal baths are located on a large area overlooking the sea with a wide beach and cover an area of about 15,000 square metres. The spa has some of the most modern medical equipment.
Also very important are the salt pans that have existed since Roman times and are still the largest in Europe, where a sea salt is cultivated using an ancient method. An all-Italian and ‘zero kilometre’ product of excellence, extremely valuable and rich in trace elements.
They host a nature reserve that can be considered an unspoilt natural oasis, populated by pink flamingos and many other protected animal and plant species.
It is worth visiting for its historical sites, including the Hypogeum of Cerberus, located in Canosa, also known as Little Rome because of its seven hills. Canosa is located a couple of kilometres away from the right bank of the Ofanto River and about 20 kilometres from the Adriatic Sea, on a level land, the antechamber of the Murge plateau.
Its iconic and mysterious octagonal structure has made it one of the most famous monuments in the world, so much so that it has been printed on the back of 1 euro cent coins for several years.
“Castel del Monte possesses exceptional universal value due to the perfection of its forms, harmony and fusion of cultural elements from northern Europe, the Muslim world and classical antiquity. It is a unique masterpiece of medieval architecture, reflecting the humanism of its founder, Frederick II of Swabia”.
With this motivation, in 1996, the UNESCO Committee, meeting in Merida (Mexico), placed the castle, built by Frederick II of Swabia around 1240, on the World Heritage list.
The park covers an area of 68,033 hectares. It extends over the highest part of the north-western Murge plateau, straddling the provinces of Bari and Barletta-Andria-Trani.
It coincides with part of the largest special protection zone established to protect the gramineous steppe, habitat of the kestrel falcon (Site of Community Importance).
The park’s main attractions include the northernmost part of the park which hosts Castel del Monte, one of the most famous castles in southern Italy and a World Heritage Site, and the beautiful villages of Minervino Murge and Spinazzola.
The well-known settlement of Canne developed in the
Ofanto Valley and has very ancient origins. The area was populated as early as
the 5th-6th millennium B.C., as evidenced by some tools found in the area.
The Roman city arose between the 6th and 4th centuries
B.C. as a simple village, and it was here in 216 B.C. that the famous Battle of
Canne took place. This battle marked a crushing defeat for the Romans at the
hands of Hannibal’s army, which, although inferior in numbers, managed to
prevail.
The fascinating archaeological park offers visitors
numerous sights, such as the majestic city walls, the wonderful Antiquarium,
the museum where materials ranging from the Eneolithic age to the Middle Ages
are preserved, and from which, passing through an ancient gate, one can reach
the Cittadella, the place where remains from the early Christian, Roman and
medieval periods are preserved.
