Foggia surroundings

Arpi was once the largest in ancient Daunia. It was founded, according to legend, by Diomedes in 326 B.C. And it was an allay of Rome in her war against the Samnites. It was occupied by Hannibal after the battle of Canne, and it was reconquered by the Romans in 213 B.C.. Modern Foggia has grown from the village to which the inhabitants of Arpi moved after their city was desctroyed by the Saracens in XI century.

Lucera

The old quarter of Lucera nestles around the Cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. It was built by Charles of Anjou in 1300 and has a spired brick façade. It is one of the best preserved examples of Angevin architecture in Southern Italy.

The Castle was originally built by Frederick II (1223-1229), while its external walls were raised by Charles of Anjou (1269-1283). This is one of the most imposing and atmospheric castles in Puglia due also to its dominat location overlooking the Tavoliere.

The Roman Amphitheatre, dating to Augustus' times is one of the largest in southern Italy. It was discovered in 1932: during the excavations, a statue of Augustus was found in the site . The amphitheatre could be accessed from two large portals, one towards Lucera and one towards Foggia; the two side accesses, as well as the external walls, are no more visible. It was perhaps destroyed in the capture of the city by the Eastern Roman Emper.

Troia

The Cathedral of Troia is a masterpiece of Apulian-Romanesque architecture. It is dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption and founded in 1039 by Bishop Girardo. Its façade is superb. The lower section is decorated with small blind arches balanced on pilaster-strips. The doorway is decorated with Oriental motifs while the bronze door itself is the work of Oderisio da Benevento (1119). The upper section is graced with a fantastic rose window made up of 11 beams.