The port of Brindisi, the Roman Brundisium, lies at the head of a wide inlet on the east coast of Apulia near the Adriatic - some 55km/34mi northeast of Taranto or 100km/62mi southeast of Bari. The town, capital of the province of the same name and see of an archbishop, has been since ancient times an important center of trade with the Eastern Mediterranean.
The poet Virgil died here in 19 B.C. on his way back from Greece.
About 500m/550yd west of the cathedral in Brindisi, above the western harbor gate, is the Castello Svevo (not open to the public), built by Frederick II in 1227, with massive round towers (15th century).
A little way southwest of the marble column in Brindisi is the cathedral, with a 12th century mosaic pavement which was remodeled in Baroque style. Adjoining it on the left stands the Archeological Museum (Museo Archeologico Provinciale), with medieval sculpture, Roman portrait statues, etc. Also near the cathedral are the 14th century Palazetto Balsamo, with a richly decorated balcony and the former baptistery of San Giovanni al Sepolcro (11th century).
Address: Museo Archeologico, Piazza del Duomo 8, I-72100 Brindisi, Italy
The Viale Regina Margherita leads to a marble column, 19m/63ft high, marking the end of the Via Appia (constructed from 312 B.C. onwards), the "Queen of Roads", which ran from Rome via Taranto to Brindisi. Of a second column, which was partly destroyed in 1528, only the lower part is left.
The sheltered Inner Harbor of Brindisi consists of two arms - to the west the Seno di Ponente, 600m/198ft long, with extensive quays and a bathing beach, and to the east the Seno di Levante, 450m/1,485ft long, in which very large vessels can berth. A channel 525m/1,733ft long connects both arms with the Outer Harbor, the entrance to which is divided into two by the islet of Sant'Andrea, with a 15th century fort.
From the Piazza del Popolo the Via Garibaldi runs northeast to the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, which overlooks the Seno di Levante. On the right is the Marine Station (Stazione Marittima; ferry services to Greece).
There is a boat trip from Viale Regina Margherita across the Seno di Ponente to the Monumento al Marinaio d'Italia, a naval war memorial (brick tower; 1933), in the form of a ship's rudder, 53m/175ft high (lift; fine views from the top).
The life of Brindisi centers on the Piazza del Popolo. A little way south stands the church of Santa Lucia, with a Byzantine crypt (frescoes) and catacombs.
Southwest of the Cathedral in Brindisi is the Norman church of San Benedetto (c. 1100), with a Romanesque side doorway and a cloister (fine relief carving).
Northwest of Brindisi (3km/2mi) is the former convent church of Santa Maria del Casale (end 13th century/beginning 14th century), with a beautiful doorway and geometric patterns in multicolored stone on the facade; inside there are some fine Byzantine frescoes.
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