A Day in Bisceglie — Between Famous Landmarks and Hidden Gems

The small but well-equipped port of Bisceglie will welcome you with the scent of fresh fish and the voices of fishermen that accompany you all the way into the historic center — a charming maze of narrow streets adorned with noble ancient palaces such as Palazzo Tupputi, with its magnificent diamond-point ashlar and its beautiful staircase in Neapolitan style. Equally fascinating is Palazzo Tafuri, also known as Palazzo Borgia, which over time gained notoriety for being attributed as the summer residence of Lucrezia Borgia — the famous Italian noblewoman whose direct connection to Bisceglie stems from her second marriage in 1498 to Alfonso of Aragon, making her the Duchess of Bisceglie.

As you enter the ancient borough, you will be greeted by the intense fragrance of flower-filled balconies and the dazzling brilliance of the white stone of the medieval "case a torre" — tall, tower-like houses that were once a distinctive feature of the town's skyline. Stop at the colorful and lively seafood market, where you can purchase the finest local catch. From here, raise your eyes to spot the imposing Maestra Tower of Svevo-Angioino Castle, where in the late 15th century, Duchess Isabella del Balzo — future wife of the King of Naples — once resided. From the same era date the Torrioni and the city walls, built by the Angevins and later expanded by the Aragonese to defend the town against Turkish incursions.

Reaching the heart of the historic center, take a moment to admire the Cathedral, in whose crypt the relics of Bisceglie's three patron saints are preserved — Mauro, Sergio and Pantaleone. Visit the treasures of the Diocesan Museum, which houses works of painting, sculpture, goldsmithery and a remarkable collection of period garments.

Once you leave the town, you can visit the Dolmen della Chianca, Albarosa and Frisari — funeral monuments dating back to the Bronze Age — or explore the Cave of Santa Croce, where a femur of Homo Sapiens Neanderthalensis was discovered. In the ravines scattered across the territory, such as Lama di Macina and Ponte Lama with its Guardian Tower, let yourself be enchanted by the intoxicating scents of the Mediterranean scrubland.