Home to one of the world’s largest Byzantine statues, Barletta is a historic commune overlooking the Adriatic Sea in Italy’s Valle dell’Ofanto. It lies on the doorstep of Canne della Battaglia where a major battle took place between the Romans and Carthaginians in 216 BC. With its monumental castle, Barletta served as an important staging post for crusades throughout the Holy Roman Empire.
Things to do in Barletta
Dominating the city centre is the Castello Svevo di Barletta, which was originally constructed during the 10th-century Norman conquests. It has been enlarged several times since for use as a barracks and a military store. Wander through its well-preserved rooms and underground passages before soaking up the views across the Adriatic Sea from its battlements.
Nearby is the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mary Maggiore, which was established in the 12th century on the site of an ancient temple. It fuses Romanesque and Gothic architectural elements in its design and houses bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the Last Supper. Also of note is the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, which is topped by a small, whitewashed bell tower.
Standing outside the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre is the Colosso di Barletta, a five-metre-tall bronze statue of an unknown Roman emperor. Legend states that it washed up on Barletta’s shores in the 13th century, with a Venetian ship returning from the Crusades thought to be its origins. Many historians suggest it depicts Emperor Marcian and once topped a column in Constantinople.
Getting around Barletta
Barletta is around a one-hour drive from Bari and 40 minutes from Bari International Airport-Karol Wojtyla, which has seasonal flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Regular trains connect to the Barletta railway station, with most of the city’s attractions accessible on foot from here.