Barletta is a coastal town in Puglia, southern Italy, lying to the north of Bari on the Adriatic coast. It’s a pretty large place with a population of over 90,000, modern suburbs and a working port. Barletta isn’t a major halt on the tourist trail but it is a pleasant place to stop for lunch or for a stroll. The historic town centre is attractive, and its sights of interest include an ancient bronze ‘Colossus’ and an imposing fortress. There are sandy beaches to either side of the town centre which attract summer visitors.
It’s worth spending a little time wandering the narrow medieval lanes of Barletta’s old town, the centro storico, where washing hangs out to dry and some buildings have stone benches incorporated into their walls so that residents can sit and pass the time of day. Beyond these huddled dwellings lie more open and elegant streets and some time-worn palazzi, testament to the town’s past wealth and importance.
Close to the castle at the edge of the centro storico is Barletta’s cathedral, the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Maggiore. The building combines Romanesque and Gothic features, and has seen some important moments in its past including a royal coronation. The adjacent belltower rises above an archway over the street. On the wall alongside are carved accounts of moments in the town’s past – pointed out to us by a local man cycling by.
The Castello Svevo is the seat of the town museum, the Museo Civico e Pinacoteca, which has as a prize exhibit a bust of Frederick II. The castle, which is a massive, sprawling construction, is reached through a pretty park which rather mysteriously kept all but one of its gates locked when we visited. The fortress is very old, but its current appearance is mostly due to sixteenth-century reconstruction.
It is highly suggested that you visit this place while you are in Italy. Barletta combines well in a day-excursion or a longer trip with some nearby destinations.It is a good idea to hire a car to take you to this place. Car rentals can be easy with a little online research and Car Rental Italy is one of the most economical options for car hire. It is a good idea to rent a car to move around to check out more interesting places of tourist attractions in Rome. Car Rental Italy offers cars on hire from a wide fleet of cars like Hertz, Mercedes, minivans and more. They provide cars on hire at economical prices and they have some exclusive offers for tourists.