Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
nano a Mare
(
Click here
)
, which has a dramatic location above the pounding surf, before heading to
Alber-
obello
(
Click here
), home to a dense neighbourhood of extraordinary cone-shaped stone homes called
trulli;
con-
sider an overnight
trulli
stay.
Stroll around one of the most picturesque
centro storicos
(historic centres) in southern Italy at
Locoro-
tondo
(
Click here
). Hit the road and cruise on to lively baroque
Lecce
(
Click here
), where you can easily
chalk up a full day exploring the sights, the shops and the flamboyantly fronted
palazzi
(mansions) and churches,
including the Basilica di Santa Croce.
Day five will be one to remember. Nothing can prepare you for Basilicata's
Matera
(
Click here
)
where the
sassi
(former cave dwellings) are a dramatic reminder of the town's poverty-stricken past. After days of pasta,
fave
beans and
cornetti
(Italian croissants), it's high time you laced up those hiking boots and checked out the
trails and activities on offer in the spectacular
Parco Nazionale del Pollino
(
Click here
)
. Finally, wind up the
trip and soothe those aching muscles with a dip in the sea at postcard-pretty
Maratea
(
Click here
) with its
surrounding seaside resorts, medieval village and cosmopolitan harbour offset by a thickly forested and moun-
tainous interior.
Sights
Most sights are in or near atmospheric Bari Vecchia, a medieval labyrinth of tight alley-
ways and graceful piazzas. It fills a small peninsula between the new port to the west and
the old port to the southeast, cramming in 40 churches and more than 120 shrines.
Castello Svevo
MAP
CASTLE
GOOGLE MAP
(Swabian Castle; 083 184 00 09; Piazza Federico II di Svevia; admission adult/reduced €2/1; 8.30am-7.30pm
Thu-Tue)
The Normans originally built over the ruins of a Roman fort, then Frederick II
built over the Norman castle, incorporating it into his design - the two towers of the Nor-
man structure still stand. The bastions, with corner towers overhanging the moat, were ad-
ded in the 16th century during Spanish rule, when the castle was a magnificent residence.
Basilica di San Nicola
(
www.basilicasannicola.it
;
Piazza San Nicola; 7am-1pm & 4-7pm Mon-Sat, 7am-1pm & 4-9pm Sun)
One of
the south's first Norman churches, the basilica is a splendid example of Puglian-
Romanesque style, built to house the relics of St Nicholas (better known as Father Christ-
mas), which were stolen from Turkey in 1087 by local fishing folk. His remains are said
to emanate a miraculous manna liquid with special powers. For this reason - and because
he is also the patron saint of prisoners and children - the basilica remains an important
place of pilgrimage. The interior is huge and simple with a decorative 17th-century
BASILICA
