The land of Federico II
Our journey begins in Canosa di Puglia (Barletta-Andria-Trani Province). This is the starting-point for a trip into the Upper Murgia area, one of the oldest wine-growing lands in Puglia, where some of the Region’s loveliest wineries welcome visitors all year round.
These wineries are a pleasure to visit with their cellars and the farming implements from the past. Take a walk through the vineyards which are the origin of the local Doc wines, surrounded by the warmth of a friendly welcome. Discover the different interpretations of the local indigenous Nero di Troia variety in both Canosa Doc and Castel del Monte Doc, two wines which have a great structure and an impenetrable colour in common.
Canosa was once known as Canusium, and the ancient site is now a destination for archaeology tourists, with its wealth of natural and artificial subterranean chambers: a necropolis, early Christian churches, buildings dating back to Magna Graecia and Roman times, churches and palaces. The country all around, and along the road to Minervino Murge, is full of masserie – the typical farmsteads of the landed gentry, with barns, store rooms and accommodation for the farm workers, and often home also to the landowners themselves.
Other signs of a deep-rooted tradition of livestock grazing are the typical buildings to be seen in the countryside: the Poste (surrounded by dry-stone walls) are primitive “hotels” on the drove roads; the Jazzi are sheep stations; the Masserie became the landowners’ headquarters in the 17th century, and now welcome guests with a timeless hospitality.
The colours and fragrances of its “fruits” – like new olive oil, wild edible thistles and cardoncello mushrooms from the Murgia – make autumn the ideal season of the year to follow this route. It also winds its way through the delightful old town of Minervino, the Scesciola - whose name is a legacy of the Arab domination of Puglia over a thousand years ago. A walk through this old area of the town gives the feeling of being in a maze, with its dense labyrinth of winding streets, low arches and stone stairways.
The next stop is Andria, another agricultural city, and world leader in the production of extra virgin olive oil. Andria is also famous for its dairy products and above all for its majestic Castel del Monte– a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. It was built by the Emperor Frederick II, and although known as a “castle”, we still do not know exactly what its function was.
WINERIES
OGNISSOLE
Canosa di Pugla (Bt)
TORMARESCA TENUTA BOCCA DI LUPO
Minervino Murge (Bt)
MIRVITA OPIFICIUM ARTEVINO TOR DE FALCHI
Minervino Murge (Bt)
RIVERA
Andria
CONTE ONOFRIO SPAGNOLETTI ZEULI
Andria
LA CANTINA DI ANDRIA
Andria
