Brindisi

Brindisi was a well known port since ancient time when it was considered the gate of the Orient. It is a natural port made of two branching inlets of the shape of a deer head. In present time a deer, along with the columns which mark the end of the Appian Way, are the symbols which decorate the city's coat of arms.

The city has Messapian origins but it was under the Romans that Brindisi began to acquire prestige, becoming an extremely important naval base in Rome's straggle for expansions. From the II century Brindisi was directly connected to Rome by the Appian Way, which after passing Taranto, reached the end at the gate of the port.

During these period the city was a great city and unfortunately little is left of that glorious past. Al is left can be see and the Archaelogical Museum of the town located in Piazza Duomo. It contains a collection of Roman relics of the most important monument such as the forum, the baths, the temples and theatres.

The only visible memory of the Roman Brindisi is the column that marked the end of the Appina Way. There were two on them. The other one is now in Lecce supporting the statue of S. Oronzo.

Though the city lacks any relics from the Roman age, it contains a number of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque monuments, such the XVIII century Romanesque style Cathedral, the Palazzo del Seminario and the portico of the Templar of Knights all located in Piazza Duomo.

Brindisi has two castles, the Swabian Castle, built by Frederick II in 1227, with a square structure and towers at its angles, and the Castello Alfonsino located on the island of S. Andrea built by Alfonso of Aragon in 1445. It is unusual for the fact that it conceals a small internal pier.