Here we are again, digging into the trunk of our travels. This time we went to fish out a weekend that we spent in September 2009 in Puglia, based in a beautiful resort and visiting these three well-known and consolidated tourist destinations, whose accessibility we have verified. Let's start with the very famous Alberobello with its equally famous trulli, the houses with a very original shape that date back, as a conception, to the fifteenth century. The monumental area (Rione Monti) can be partly traveled with our vehicles, preferably electrified given the slope of the main road: it is still possible to have a good overview of this particular village:
At the top of the Rione Monti we find this church, built in 1927, dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua, which reproduces the features of the trulli of Alberobello:
Another point of considerable interest is the Trullo Sovrano. Today used as a museum house, originally (second half of the 18th century) it was a simple peasant trullo, then expanded to above average dimensions (height 14 meters); in 1928 it was declared a national monument and today it can be visited for us at least on the ground floor:
The second stop of this Apulian weekend is Ostuni, called "the white city" because of the houses in the historic center once painted with lime. The first nucleus of the city was founded by the Messapi in the VII century BC; then Ostuni passed from the Romans to the Byzantines to the Normans to the Swabians, who with Frederick II gave it a decisive boost for development. From the Angevins onwards the city followed the fate of the Kingdom of Naples and subsequently of united Italy. So let's see some images of this historic center, where we can climb with our vehicles, even if many buildings are visible to us only from the outside:
The church of San Vito Martire:
The Co-Cathedral of Ostuni, completed in 1495, with its front and side rose windows:
Finally, the Arco Scoppa, which connects two ancient noble palaces:
The town of Ostuni extends to the sea and the Marina di Ostuni is full of beaches and is an important bathing site. Unfortunately when we were there it was late September and it was raining, so we show you some images of somewhat melancholy beaches, even if the presence of ancient watchtowers enriches them with a certain historical charm: The tower-castle of Villanova:
the beach of Pilone:
the watchtower of San Leonardo:
Torre Pozzelle (16th century):
Before we mentioned Frederick II of Swabia: well, the Stupor Mundi has left in these parts perhaps the most original monument full of mysterious meanings that have been discussed for centuries. We are talking about Castel Del Monte, which rises beautifully isolated in the Apulian countryside and was also depicted on the Italian 1 eurocent coins (perhaps it deserved something more ...). It can be reached easily by car and it is worth it, even if only to enjoy the glance, since at the time it was inaccessible to us:
And let's see it then, this Stupor Mundi, Frederick II of Swabia, immortalized by a statue inserted in a niche in the facade of the Royal Palace in Naples, together with all the other Kings of Naples:
We close this post with a practical indication: here is the resort where we stayed, with a nice solution for people with motion disabilities, the Trullo dell'Ulivo: Abate Masseria & Resort Zone F, 83 / c Noci (BA) +39 080 497 8288 http://www.abatemasseria.it/en
