18km/11mi west of Foggia, on a plateau above the wide Apulian plain, is Lucera (219m/723ft; pop. 34,000), the ancient Luceria. The town was developed into an important stronghold, the key to Apulia, by the Emperor Frederick II, and populated by 20,000 Saracens brought in from Sicily between 1233 and 1245. Most of the population was killed by Charles II of Anjou around 1300.
About 1km/0.75mi west of the town of Lucera, beyond the beautiful Giardino Pubblico, is a castle (251m/828ft) built by Frederick II in 1233 and rebuilt by Charles I of Anjou, a well-preserved example of medieval military architecture, from the top of which there are far-ranging views.
The Museo Civico Giuseppe Fiorelli displays coins, inscriptions, numerous terracottas, a beautiful statue of Venus of the A.D. first century and other treasures.
Address: Museo Civico Giuseppe Fiorelli, Via de Nicasrti 47, Lucera , Italy
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