Excursion Trani & castel del monte tour at Bari

Travelling - approximately 60-minutes - northwards from Bari along the scenic coastal route, you will arrive in Trani: visit the elegant Cathedral located at the extreme tip of a U-shaped little harbour, facing the Swabian Castle.

The Cathedral is one of the finest examples of churches in Apulian Romanesque style, boasting a precious doorway with stone carvings dating from the 13th century, and a beautiful XII century's bronze door made by Barisano da Trani using the so called "lost wax" bronze process for the first time. The door's 32 sections are decorated with figures of Christ, the Virgin, Apostles and Saints. The impressive interior of the cathedral was covered with Baroque decorations in the XIX century, and it was restored to its original Romanesque appereance in 1952-55. From the side aisles you will reach the Crypt dedicated to Saint Nicholas the Pilgrim (who died in Trani by the end of the 11th century) built along with the lower church of Santa Maria, over a Paleochristian site housing a rectangular space known as Hypogeum (literally "underground space") of Saint Leucius, after the first bishop of Brindisi whose bones were transferred to Trani in the VIII century.  

After the visit, some free time will be given for wandering at leisure around this lovely town that is locally known as 'the slow town'.  Here you will have the opportunity to sit and relax and watch the world go by in one of its typical cafes. The lively fishing port and the wide, paved streets and elegant buildings offer a very pleasant ambience. If you are lucky you may see the hustle and bustle of the local fish market.

It's time to drive now to Castel del Monte area to enjoy a local set-menu lunch at a very local Farmhouse before visiting the Castle.

This harmonious castle, an UNESCO site in Puglia, with its octagonal central structure (8 towers of the same shape around the edges) and with the mixture of Romanesque, Arabian, Norman and Gothic elements is one of the most discussed castles in the world.  This construction was ordered by Frederick II of Swabia on the top of an isolated hill near Andria and it was built by local workers as well as Northern and Saracen stone-masons craftsmen.

At the end of the visit, re-board your coach and commence the approximately 90-minute journey back to the pier in Bari.

Note

Please note: This tour involves an extensive amount of walking for 1.30-1.50 miles along partly cobbled and uneven streets, some inclines and approximately 30-35 steps, in addition to entering and leaving the coach. Guests will also have to stand for some periods of time. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and only partly suitable for guests with limited mobility. Children over 5 may participate. Flat comfortable footwear is highly recommended, as is a hat in hot weather. Conservative dress is required when entering churches: ladies must cover their knees and shoulders and gentlemen should wear trousers. Flash photography is not permitted inside churches. On Sundays, church holidays and during weddings, groups are not allowed inside churches during services. Guests may have the chance to visit churches independently: quietly and reverently. Guides are not allowed to enter and talk during services. The tour sequence may vary. Space on this tour is very limited; we suggest you book in advance to avoid disappointment. Please note that guides may have accents reflecting their regional backgrounds, which adds to the diversity and richness of the experience.