Bitontoa picturesque village in the heart of Puglia, is a destination that is often overlooked by the most distracted tourists, yet it contains within itself an incredible historical, artistic and cultural heritage. Located in the hinterland of Bari, this city boasts very ancient roots and a unique charm, which deserves to be discovered and fully appreciated.
If you are planning a trip through the beautiful region of Puglia, we recommend including Bitonto in your list of destinations to visit. You can visit the village even on a weekendfollowing our suggested itinerary on what to see and what to do in Bitonto.
What to see in Bitonto
Very important Peucetian center, Bitonto It stands on the edge of a ravine in Puglia, with a historic center with a trapezoidal plan and narrow streets. There are, in the village, many Renaissance suggestions and elegant places of worship such as the church of San Francesco d’Assisi in Piazza Minerva, the Sanctuary of Cosma and Damiano, the baroque church of San Domenico and the Abbey of San Leo, with its fourteenth-century bell tower and sixteenth-century cloister. In the nearby countryside it is possible to see the numerous rock churchessuch as Santa Croce, Torre Cela, Sant’Eugenio and San Basilio.
Just over 10 km from Bari, Bitonto preserves long sections of walls and numerous towers Angevin and Norman as remains of the military fortifications of the past. Recognized as City of Olivesis known nationally for the very good oil prepared with its renowned variety of olives, the Ogliarola of Bitonto or Cima of Bitontostill today strictly hand-picked in the red earth countryside of the Bari hinterland.
Walk in the Medieval Historic Centre
The beating heart of Bitonto is undoubtedly its fascinating historic center, perfectly preserved and full of medieval buildings. Start your visit by walking through the narrow cobbled streets, admiring the noble palacesthe Romanesque churches and the characteristic squares.
An absolute must is the gorgeous Valentine’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of 12th century Romanesque-Apulian architecture, with its imposing white stone façade and the majestic staircase leading to the entrance. Once inside, let yourself be enchanted by the central nave, the frescoes and the precious sacred furnishings.
In the immediate vicinity of the cathedral, do not miss a visit to Bishop’s Palacehome of the bishops of Bitonto, and the Diocesan Museum, which houses a truly precious collection of sacred art.
The Gallery Puglia national team “Girolamo and Rosaria Devanna” houses a magnificent collection of works of art, dated between the 16th and 20th centuries and kept in the rooms of Sylos Calò Palace, extraordinary scenic backdrop to Piazza Cavour and the maximum expression of Renaissance civil architecture in the town. Registered inList of Monumental Buildings in Italy since 1902the Palace is located along the ancient via “delli Mercanti” which once connected the main city gate, Porta Baresana, to the Cathedral. A double staircase leads to the main floor, where a large terrace connects the various upper rooms. In July 2004, the brothers Rosaria and Girolamo Devanna of Bitonto entrusted the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism with an important and precious collection of paintings, with the aim of establishing a public place dedicated to contemporary art, which was actually opened in 2009: sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, representatives of “minor schools” and nineteenth-century schools, Italian, French, German, English. Also of significant interest are the large number of sketches, preparatory studies, models, replicas or ancient copies and the precious corpus of drawings by Italian artists and Europeans between the 16th and 20th centuries.
Another stop we suggest you make is the Library municipal “Eustachio Rogadeo” and Civic MuseumThe museum, founded in the early 1960s, takes its name from the building that houses it, the seventeenth-century Rogadeo Palaceseat of the Municipal library: numerous archaeological finds found in the Bitonto area are on display. Arranged in the two rooms of the structure, called “Traetta” and “Rogadeo”, there is also the Library, made up of over 400 parchments, manuscripts, incunabula, a thirteenth-century red book and an ancient illuminated Evangeliary.
Discover the Old Town and the Saturday Market
Then head towards the Old City, a maze of streets and alleys that retain their medieval charm intact. Here you will find artisan workshops, characteristic shops and picturesque views that will make you feel catapulted back in time.
An unmissable event is the Saturday Market, which takes place in the historic center. Among the colored benches you can admire the incredible variety of typical local products, from fresh vegetables to cured meats, from cheeses to olives. Don’t miss the opportunity to stock up on gastronomic specialties to take home: in Puglia, as we know, good food is at home.
Puglia is famous throughout the world for its culinary tradition and Bitonto undoubtedly represents one of its gastronomic jewels. As already mentioned, you cannot leave the city without tasting its delicious typical products, starting fromextra virgin olive oilthe true green gold of the region.
Visit one of the oil mills of the area to take part in guided tastings and learn the secrets of oil production. You can also buy bottles of the finest oil to take home as a precious souvenir of your trip. But Bitonto’s specialties are not limited to oil: savor the tasty panzerottii tarallilocal cheeses and typical desserts.
Explore the surroundings
If you still have time available, we recommend that you move slightly away from the center of Bitonto to discover the wonders of its surroundings. A short distance away you will find the Lama Balic Regional Natural Parkand, a natural oasis rich in biodiversity, with paths immersed in the Mediterranean scrub perfect for hiking or cycling.
Furthermore, not far from the city, you can visit the suggestive Castellana Cavesan underground karst complex of incredible beauty, with stalactites, stalagmites and rock formations that leave you breathless.
And for an authentic immersion in the Apulian tradition, don’t miss the opportunity to visit one of the majestic ones farms in the area, old farms that today offer accommodation, catering and activities related to agriculture and livestock farming.
