Barletta Attractions

There is an attractive drive south to Castel del Monte. The road comes first in 12km/7mi, to Andria, once the favorite residence of the Emperor Frederick II; the crypt of the cathedral contains the tombs of Iolante of Jerusalem (d. 1228) and Isabella of England (d. 1241 at Foggia), the second and third wives of the emperor. The church of Sant'Agostino has a richly decorated doorway (14th century).

From Canosa di Puglia it is 22km/14mi northeast to Barletta. About half-way there, off the road to the left, is the cemetery of the ancient town of Cannae, the place where Hannibal defeated the Romans in 216 B.C. (museum; medieval cemetery of the ninth-11th centuries).

Beyond the cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore in Barletta is the massive Castello, originally built by the Hohenstaufens in the 13th century, with four bastions added in 1537.

There is an attractive drive west of Castel del Monte (21km/13mi) to Minervino Murge (429m/1,416ft; pop. 14,000), splendidly situated on the highest part of the Murge. Because of the extensive views from here it is also called "Balcony of Apulia". The town has a castle and a small cathedral. In a park outside the town is a large war memorial, the Faro votivo ai Caduti. From the north side of the park there are fine views of the town and surroundings.

Northeast of the church of San Sepolcro in Barletta is the Municipal Museum (Museo Civico) with a picture gallery.

On the promontory north of Barletta is the Porta Marina (1751); to the east of this is the harbor and to the west the bathing beach.

Northwest of the cathedral in Barletta stands the church of Sant'Andrea with a Romanesque doorway (13th century).