Places to see in ( Trani - Italy )
Places to see in ( Trani - Italy )
Known as the 'Pearl of Puglia', beautiful Trani has a sophisticated feel, particularly in summer when well-heeled visitors pack the array of marina-side bars. The marina is the place to promenade and watch the white yachts and fishing boats in the harbour, while the historic centre, with its medieval churches, glossy limestone streets, historic Jewish quarter and faded yet charming palazzi is an enchanting area to explore. But it's the cathedral, pale against the deep-blue sea, that is the town's most arresting sight.
The town dates to about 1000 AD and became an important port city. Frederick II fortified it with a castle and protective walls, and it had a large, active Jewish population in the Middle Ages, at one time boasting four synagogues. Today, two remain; one, Scola Nova, dates to about 1240 has been reopened and functions as an active synagogue. The other, Scola Grande, had been converted to the church of St. Anna when the Jews were expelled, but now that church is home to the Diocesan Museum, which offers a Jewish art section. Trani had a bustling giudeca district, a Jewish neighborhood (not to be confused with a Jewish ghetto, which was a closed section.) Traces of the once-rich culture can be seen in those sights, as well as places that bear names, like Piazza del Sinagoga and Via Giudeca.
The cathedral is the focal point and primary landmark of Trani, a pink-hued stone structure that sits right on the waterfront. It is built in a distinct Pugliese version of Romanesque style, with intricately-carved portals, doors and window settings. Don't miss the lower level, which is surprisingly more ornately decorated than the main sanctuary. The town's park, called Villa Comunale, is a nice green space with a promenade along the sea and a beautiful view of the cathedral from the quay (called il Fortino).
Trani is still an active port, with pleasure boats and a fishing fleet -which means super-fresh seafood on the tables! Don't miss a chance to sample the delicacies that Puglia is famous for. It has about 56,000 residents, so there is plenty of cafes and restaurants and shops to enjoy, too. Trani is north of Bari and near the fascinating castle built by Frederick II, Castel del Monte.
Near the cathedral is the church museum, the Museo Diocesano, which exhibits a collection of sculpture and archaeological finds from Trani's churches. Trani's defensive fortress, the Castello Svevo, is on the shore just beyond the cathedral. It dates to 1249 and is one of the many castles built in southern Italy by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, one of the area's most interesting historical figures. For a long period (until the 1970s) the building was used as a prison; nowadays it's open as a tourist attraction, although there isn't that much to see. There is an admission charge, although tickets are reduced for 18-25s and free to under-18s and over-65s. The castle houses occasional exhibitions and special events.
On the low headland behind the cathedral is the oldest part of Trani's historic centre. Exploring the lanes here, the visitors comes across picturesque corners and interesting sights like the roadside bas-reliefs pictured on the left. The most famed of Trani's historic dwellings is the fifteenth-century Palazzo Caccetta on Via Ognissanti, which belongs to the council. Nearby is a twelfth-century church built by the Knights Templar, the Chiesa di Ognissanti. Trani was on a route used by crusaders heading to and from the Holy Land, and there was a hospital here for the sick and wounded. You can see the exterior of the church from the harbourside (the curved apse) or from the lane the other side of the building; unfortunately it is not usually open to the public.
Inland towards the railway station the streets are more modern but despite the traffic which runs along them, there is still a rather old-worldly air to the wide pavements and shops. It's a promenading kind of town, and some of the lanes and squares probably haven't changed since the nineteenth century. In one mellow piazza a sign advertises: Trani: Città Slow; in the midday lull the description couldn't have been more apt: other than a bird singing we were the only life.
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