Bitritto (source: Visual Puglia )
A town placed in Bari territory, it was already inhabited back during the XI Century according to a document of December 1070 related to the church of St. Thomas in Locus Vitrictum, kept among the "Chartae" of the Basilica of San Nicola di Bari. Back in 1082 the designation Casale di Bitritto appeared in the accounts of that time (from Bretrictum, to Betrictum and Bitrictum, and finally Bitricti). Recent restoration works in the Castle allowed to discover ancient wells dated before the year one thousand, thus pushing forward the date of a possible foundation of the city in late Roman era. Starting from Duke of Apulia Roberto il Guiscardo, Bitritto underwent several dominions. During Norman kingdom, Frangalius was its feoffee; during Angevin period, Guglielmo Bolardo took possession of the hamlet with weapons (1308). From 1386 to 1425, the feud was acquired by the Durazzo’s. During Aragonese domination, the following Spanish domination and Bourbon kingdom, Bari Archbishops alternately exercised their feudal rights over this land. Until mid 1900s, Bitritto has mainly been a sylvan-pastern territory. As a witness of their simple life mainly made of agricultural products trade, Bitritto is also known as town of hazelnut producers. According to a legend, in 1830, a Bitritto hazelnut producer would visit nearby towns to sell his merchandise in a big saddle bag filled with hazelnuts.
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Murge are composed of rectangular-shaped calcareous tableland marked by the Ofanto river, the 'Messapi threshold', Basilicata and Adriatic Sea. Murge territory is partially protected through the homonymous park. It encloses an astonishing variety of landscapes: caves, sanctuaries, defensive strongholds, churches and rock settlements, small towns and big cities. Coastal cities such as Bari, Mola, Polignano offer tourists a right mix of limpid waters, beautiful beaches and an extremely wide historic as well as artistic panorama. On the contrary, in the northern part of the region Andria and Altamura attract tourists with their history and rich food heritage.
The Adriatic Coast of Bari territory is characterized by several cities overlooking the coast with their medieval centers. Apulian capital stands ashore with its Castle, close to smaller cities which allow spending beautiful, relaxing vacations at close touch with history
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Northern Murge are characterized by evocative Medieval towns, small fortified villages where that defended populations during invasions. Andria is famous for Castel del Monte, with its classical octagonal layout, built by Frederick II as hunting manor. Altamura makes a bread that puts together the fragrance of wheat and color of the Apulian sun
Project created in collaboration with InnovaPuglia.
Regione Puglia
Regione Puglia