This medieval port city in southern Italy is known for its 13th-century Colossus statue, Norman castle, and Romanesque cathedral. Local wineries produce the DOC Rosso Barletta wine.
Barletta, a city on Italy’s Adriatic coast, lets you touch history under wide skies. A five-meter bronze statue, possibly a Roman emperor, stands near a medieval church, and a castle with sharp angles rises above the rooftops. Walk past a cathedral mixing Romanesque and Gothic styles, visit the site of an ancient battle, and step onto beaches that continue for miles. Local stories include a 16th-century knightly contest still remembered in festivals, and meals here rely on olive oil, fresh pasta, and fish from nearby waters. You can cross the center on foot, discovering sunlit squares and seaside paths where time moves slowly.
The Bronze Statue and Medieval Castle
Start your visit on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, where the tall bronze figure known as the Colossus overlooks the square. Scholars debate whether it represents Emperor Valentinian I or another leader, but its presence hints at Barletta’s layered past. Walk five minutes north to reach the castle, first built as a wooden fort in the 900s and later rebuilt in stone under Frederick II. Climb its walls to see the city and sea, visit rooms displaying medieval tools and weapons, and step into underground spaces where sound carries clearly. The dry moat around the castle now holds gardens named after locals who resisted fascism during WWII.
Churches and Historic Buildings
Barletta’s religious buildings span different eras. The main cathedral, Santa Maria Maggiore, has a Romanesque main hall and a Gothic altar area, with a crypt beneath holding parts of a much older church. The Basilica del Santo Sepolcro, once a stop for Crusaders traveling to the Holy Land, still shows damage from Ottoman attacks in the 1500s. Visit the Chiesa delle Anime del Purgatorio, decorated with carvings of skulls and bones, or San Giacomo, a small 11th-century church dedicated to Saint James. As you explore, notice grand homes like Palazzo della Marra, with detailed ceiling paintings, next to simpler houses where residents dry clothes on balconies.
The 1503 Knightly Duel and Its Celebrations
A tavern argument in 1503 led to a formal fight between 13 Italian and 13 French knights, with the Italians winning. The cellar where the challenge happened, Cantina della Sfida, now has displays explaining the event. Each February, locals dress in Renaissance costumes for parades and mock battles, and summer brings jousting competitions near the castle. Barletta also honors its WWII resistance fighters, with medals and memorials at the Monumental Cemetery. This duel’s story shows how the city turns real events into lasting traditions.
Beaches Along the Adriatic
Barletta’s coast has two main beach areas. West of the port, Lido di Ponente has soft sand and shallow water, good for children, with pine trees behind the shore. East of the port, Lido di Levante has more rocks and clearer water, popular for snorkeling. Both beaches have spots to rent chairs and umbrellas in summer, and the seaside promenade connects them to cafes selling shaved ice and coffee. Past the working port, quieter stretches of coast have wooden boats and storage huts used by fishermen.
Food and Local Dishes
Meals here highlight ingredients like durum wheat, local olives, and seafood. Try orecchiette pasta with bitter greens or thin beef rolls cooked in tomato sauce. Bakeries sell friselle, hard bread rounds softened with water and topped with tomatoes, and markets offer fresh sea urchins or octopus salad. For sweets, look for cartellate, fried pastry strips dipped in fig syrup or grape must. Drink red wines from nearby vineyards, like Rosso Barletta, or white Bombino Bianco from the Castel del Monte area.
Art Museums and Cultural Sites
Barletta honors Giuseppe De Nittis, a 19th-century painter who worked in Paris, with a gallery in Palazzo della Marra showing his cityscapes and portraits. The castle’s museum displays a stone bust of Frederick II, medieval swords, and temporary exhibits in arched rooms. Teatro Curci, modeled after Naples’ famous opera house, hosts music and theater under a painted ceiling. Public art includes murals of the 1503 duel on building walls, and summer concerts near the Colossus.
Visiting Nearby Canne della Battaglia and Trani
Drive 20 minutes southwest to Canne della Battaglia, where Hannibal defeated a Roman army in 216 BCE. Walk through fields of olive trees to see ancient tombs, village ruins, and a museum with artifacts from the battle. Northeast of Barletta, Trani’s white stone cathedral appears to rise from the harbor, especially at sunset. Boats from Trani go to the Tremiti Islands, and its old Jewish quarter has museums in former synagogues. Trains from Barletta reach both sites in under 30 minutes.
Arriving in Barletta and Getting Around
Barletta’s train station has direct routes from Bari (35 minutes) and Foggia (50 minutes). From the station, walk straight down Corso Garibaldi for 10 minutes to reach the historic center. Buses go to beaches and suburbs, but the center is easiest to explore on foot—watch for uneven stone streets. Drivers should park near the castle or beaches to avoid traffic restrictions. A paved bike path follows the coast north to Margherita di Savoia, known for its salt pans.
