Page 515 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

ABRUZZ O , MOLISE AND PUGLIA  513

carved sculpture – projecting Duomo’s most notable external
lions and bulls. The upper features are its sculptures,
façade displays a rose window particularly surrounding the
with Saracenic-style detailing. rose window and the arched
The main entrance, with window below it, and the
bronze doors by Oderisio entrance portal with bronze
da Beneventano (1119), is doors (1175–9) by Barisano
dominated by carved capitals da Trani. The vigour of the
and an architrave, both Byzantine interior has been revealed
in style. Within the Duomo is a following restoration.
Romanesque pulpit (1169). Next to the Duomo is the
castle (1233–49) founded by
Frederick II. Rebuilt in the 14th
q Trani and 15th centuries, it is a well-
preserved edifice with one wall
Bari. * 55,000. V @ n Piazza
Sacra Regia Udienza II (0883 58 88 30). dropping sheer into the sea.
( Tue. ∑ traniviva.it The façade of Trani’s Duomo The 15th-century Gothic-
Renaissance Palazzo Caccetta,
During the Middle Ages, this church whose predecessor, in Piazza Trieste, is a rare
small, lively whitewashed port the Ipogei di San Leucio, dates survival. Nearby, on Via
bustled with mercantile activity from the 7th century. It is Ognissanti, the 12th-century
and was filled with merchants dedicated to St Nicholas the Romanesque church of the
and traders from Genoa, Amalfi Pilgrim, a little-remembered Ognissanti, the chapel of the
and Pisa. It reached its peak of miracle worker (died 1094) Knights Templar erected in the
prosperity under Frederick II. who was canonized as an act courtyard of their hospital, is
Today it is visited for its of rivalry against the town of notable for its original portico.
Norman Duomo in Piazza Bari, which possessed the Other churches worth a visit are
Duomo, built mainly from bones of another, more Santa Teresa and the monastery
1159 to 1186 over an earlier memorable St Nicholas. The of La Colonna.
w Castel del Monte and he used his castles as Octagonal Graceful,
hunting lodges where he could satellite tower arched
Località Andria, Bari. n Beni Culturali
(0883 56 99 97). Open Apr–Sep: retire from court life with his windows
10:15am–7:15pm daily; Oct–Mar: falcons and books. Inside there
9am–6:30pm daily. Closed are two floors, each with eight
1 Jan, 25 Dec. & ∑ castel rib-vaulted rooms, some still
delmonte.beniculturali.it lined with marble. This, and
the marble
Remote in the mouldings on
endless plains near the entrance
Ruvo di Puglia, and the upper
Castel del Monte, floor, as well as
built in the mid- sophisticated lavatory
Frederick II 13th century, out- arrangements, mark
classes every other the castle
castle associated with Frederick II. as a palace.
It is also one of the most
sophisticated secular buildings
of the Middle Ages. The emperor Thick and
had broad intellectual interests, impenetrable walls

The main entrance portal
Octagonal is in the style of a Roman
courtyard triumphal arch.
Floorplan of the Castle
The building is a harmonious
geometrical study with two storeys of
eight rooms each. The reasons for such
precise planning of this giant octagon
Castel del Monte standing alone on the summit of a low hill remain a mystery to this day.

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