Cassano delle Murge (source: Visual Puglia )
Cassano stands north of Murge massif, at the boundary between Eastern and Southern Murgia. In ancient times the city was known as Casa Jani (’House of Janus’) in honor of a temple devoted to double-fronted god Janus, which stood where the Church of Holy Crucifix can be found today. The town belonged to the Cassia family, who earned it for their campaigns against Taranto. During the second half of XI Century, Duke of Apulia and Calabria Roberto il Guiscardo yield the village to the Archbishop of Bari. King Ladislao eventually included Cassano in the Kingdom of Naples for its support to Luigi II d’Angiò. The city was eventually under the lordship of Del Balzo, Acquaviva and Ayerba-d’Aragona families, during feudal subversion. Since 1862 Cassano has had its current name with the indication of Murge, in order to distinguish it from other synonymous cities on the national territory.
(continue...)
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
Go to list
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