Apulia, rich in history, culture and traditions, over the centuries, has been a landfall and passage of the different peoples who inhabited the Mediterranean. Among them, the Arabs also took part in the events that made the region a protagonist of the historical scenario, leaving an important cultural legacy in southern Italy.
Let us then set out on the trail of the Arabs in Apulia and discover the most important Saracen watchtowers.
Our tour on the trail of Saracen settlements in Apulia starts from Lucera, in the province of Foggia, a city with an ancient past. Founded as a Roman settlement, in the Middle Ages Lucera became an Arab community at the behest of Frederick II of Swabia. The emperor in fact had many families of Saracen settlers transferred from Sicily .
Embraced by vineyards and wheat fields, olive groves and extensive vegetable plantations, the town dominates the Tavoliere delle Puglie.
The narrow, cobblestone alleys that wind through the heart of the old town are very reminiscent of the urban structure at the time of the Saracens. As evidence of this historical passage through Lucera, typical folk buildings, called Saracen turrets, topped by a unique dome, still survive.
In addition, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which today stands majestically in Piazza Duomo, was built in place of the Mosque following the expulsion of the Saracens by Charles I of Anjou.
Real Thousand and One Nights atmospheres: a first stop, on a tour of the region, can be Capitanata (as the northern Apulian territory is defined). The ideal is to opt for a vacation home in the province of Foggia. Among the most beautiful places are definitely the Gargano and the Daunia area.
Another 'must-see if you are looking for Arab evidence in Apulia is Bari. The city was for a quarter century the capital of a small Arab emirate that controlled much of the region.
The renowned basilica of St. Nicholas now stands in the area where the town's mosque is presumed to have once been. The urban layout of Bari's historic center retains characteristic medieval features, with its narrow, labyrinthine alleys, courtyards and small squares, within a defensive wall system. A walk through the old town of Bari restores all the typical Eastern atmosphere that is still preserved among the facades of the buildings and in the liveliness of the popular language.
The second stop on our itinerary, the Bari area is rich in small seaside villages and beautiful country communities. To admire such beauty during your stay, it is important to choose the right location and accommodation tailored to your needs. One example of this is vacation rentals in Monopoli; convenient rental solutions in one of the region's best-known seaside towns.
Continuing south, another stop on our journey is Otranto. Famous for the Saracen raid, it has a story to tell. On July 28, 1480, an Ottoman army landed in Otranto, then under the kingdom of Naples, and occupied the city.
Once they took the fortress, the Turks set about slaughtering the fishing community. The survivors of the capture, in fact, after refusing to repudiate their religion, were taken to Minerva Hill and beheaded on a stone.
Witnessing this event is the striking cathedral of Maria Annunziata. The 'interior of the church features three wide naves. In the right one a somewhat macabre scene opens up: the seven shrines in which the bones of the Eight Hundred Martyrs are kept.
The history of Otranto is all in the monuments. From the stone, urban glimpses that open into the heart of the city, one has the possibility of experiencing an exotic atmosphere.
A plunge into the history and beauty of the town of Otranto. As a third stopover location, then, Otranto is the best choice for visiting Salento. Thanks to Barbarhouse, you can book your vacation home in Otranto and explore all corners of the heel of Italy with peace of mind.
Framing so much history and culture, finally, are the beautiful coastal towers in Puglia that dot and punctuate the region's coastline.
Further evidence of Arab culture in Apulia comes from food and survives to this day in the recipes of the local cuisine. It was also the Arabs who introduced in Apulia the use of spices in dishes such as, for example, saffron. They were also responsible for the increased cultivation of olive trees and the production of oil.
The drying of food pastes with which the well-known homemade pasta is then made is known to have been introduced to southern Italy by the Arabs, who had already been making extensive use of it for centuries, in order to secure a long-lasting food source during their reckless journeys across seas and deserts.
