Page 514 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

512  SOUTHERN IT AL Y

1269, its fortified wall of 900 m
(2,953 ft) is interspersed with
24 towers. Of Frederick’s original
palace, only the base and
some vaulting remains.
In 1300, Charles II, who
killed most of Lucera’s Muslim
population, began the Duomo
on the site of their main
mosque. The high, soaring nave
is filled with 15th­ and 16th­
century frescoes and carvings.
The Museo Civico Fiorelli
has displays of episodes from
throughout Lucera’s history.
E Museo Civico Fiorelli
Via de Nicastri 44. Tel 0881 54 70
41. Open 10am–1pm & 3–7pm
Tue–Sun.
The coast near Peschici on the Gargano Peninsula
8 Gargano Lesina and Varano, havens for
Peninsula waterfowl. Plunging through the
Gargano is an old pilgrim route
Foggia. V @ n Piazza del Popolo (S272) from San Severo in the
10, Manfredonia (0884 58 19 98); Via west to the shrine at Monte
Sant’Antonio Abate 21, Monte Sant’Angelo in the east. The first
Sant’Angelo (0884 56 89 11).
∑ parcogargano.it stop is San Marco in Lamis,
dominated by a huge 16th­
A rocky spur jutting into the century convent. Further along,
Adriatic Sea, the Gargano is San Giovanni Rotondo is a focus
dotted with coves and cliffs. Its for pilgrims visiting the tomb of
coastal towns of Manfredonia, Padre Pio (1887–1968), a beatified
Rodi Garganico, Peschici and miracle worker. The last stop is The remains of Lucera castle
Vieste are popular with holiday­ Monte Sant’Angelo, with its
makers. To the east lies the grotto where the Archangel
Foresta Umbra, a vast woodland Michael is said to have appeared 0 Troia
of beech, oak, yew and pine, to the Bishop of Sipontum in 493. Foggia. * 33,000. @ n 0881 97 82
and to the north the salt lakes of To the south of Manfredonia, 41. ( 1st & 3rd Sat of month.
beside the ruins of ancient ∑ www.comune.troia.fg.it
Siponto, is the oriental­inspired
12th­century church of Santa Founded in 1017 as a Byzantine
Maria di Siponto. fortress against the Lombards,
Troia fell to the Normans in
1066. Until Frederick II destroyed
9 Lucera it in 1229, the town had been
ruled by a succession of
Foggia. * 35,000. @ n Piazza
Nocelli 6 (0881 52 27 62). ( Wed. powerful bishops who were
∑ www.comune.lucera.fg.it responsible for producing many
remarkable buildings, including
On the northeast edge of town, Troia’s Duomo (see pp482–3).
once a prosperous Roman Begun in 1093 and constructed
colony, are the ruins of a Roman over the following 30 years, it
amphitheatre. Lucera was exhibits an extra ordinary diversity
rebuilt in the 13th century by of styles. It successfully blends
Frederick II, who peopled it elements of Lombard, Saracenic
with 20,000 Sicilian Muslims. and Byzantine style with that of
It became one of the strongest the Pisan­Romanesque.
fortresses in southern Italy, and Elegant blind arcading
its castle is one of Puglia’s most distinguishes the Duomo’s
Typical street scene in the town of Vieste on magnificent. Built in 1233 by lower storey. The upper sections
the Gargano Peninsula Frederick II, and enlarged after are characterized by powerfully
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp576–7 and pp600–605

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm