Holiday apartment in Lucera: Fortress, old town and culture

Lucera lies on three hills in an area characterised by vineyards and overlooks the entire Tavoliere delle Puglie plain.

Fortress, mosaics and routes through Lucera

The Swabian-Angevin Fortezza preserves archaeological traces from the Neolithic period as well as from the Roman and Hohenstaufen eras. The municipal visitor service offers free guided tours of the archaeological site when municipal guides are on site. At the same time, the Fortezza provides a viewpoint over the entire Tavoliere delle Puglie plain.

Among the notable historical finds are the mosaics of San Giusto. They belonged to an early Christian basilica from the first half of the 5th century, with three naves, an apse and a round baptistery located outside. Today, the mosaics are displayed in the Lucera City Library in the San Pasquale complex. Since 1936, the Museo Civico “G. Fiorelli” has also been housed in the 18th-century Palazzo Cavalli–De Nicastri.

The Itinerario Gentilizio is a short tour through Lucera’s historic centre, passing palaces, courtyards and alleyways. Porta Troia is one of Lucera’s old city gates and dates from the 14th century. Via alle Mura, a surviving example of Muslim art in Lucera, lies near Porta Troia. Lucera’s Saracen tower, dating from the 13th century, also preserves this artistic and historical legacy. The Museo Diocesano can be accessed via the right-hand staircase of the Palazzo Vescovile in Lucera.

Churches, antiquity and theatre

The Santuario di San Francesco was built in 1300 by Carlo II d’Angiò and houses the remains of San Francesco Antonio Fasani. The Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate was built in 1330 by Roberto d’Angiò and has a polychrome dome dating from 1648. The Chiesa di San Domenico was built in 1300 at the behest of Carlo II d’Angiò on the site of former Arab fondaci. Its furnishings include a wooden choir with 26 small statues of saints and blesseds of the Dominican Order.

The foundations of the Palazzo Bruno contain the stele of the Lex de luco sacro, bearing an archaic inscription from the 3rd century BC. The Teatro Garibaldi was built in 1837; since 1861, it has borne the name of General Giuseppe Garibaldi. It is located on the ground floor of the Palazzo Mozzagrugno and features decorative stucco work, a painted curtain and an ornamented ceiling.

Sightseeing and free time

The Anfiteatro Romano can be reached from the SS17 without having to drive through Lucera: at the first roundabout, turn onto Via Delle Porte Antiche and then follow Viale Giovanni Paolo II. The Anfiteatro is currently closed. The Centro Informazione Turistica provides information about sightseeing routes to monuments, churches and the historic centre and can arrange free visits to the Fortezza, the Anfiteatro and the historic centre, subject to availability.

For a more peaceful break, the approximately four-hectare Villa Comunale is available. It has a recently renovated roller-skating rink, as well as opportunities for running, walking and stretching.

Festivals and specialities

The festival in honour of Santa Maria dell’Assunta takes place from 14 to 16 August and includes markets, music groups, a procession, concerts and fireworks. Lucera’s well-known specialities include sugar-coated almonds known as “menele atterrate”. Calzoncelli are also typical, filled either with chestnuts or with a mixture of chickpea cream, chocolate, chopped almonds and walnuts, and soaked in vincotto.

More destinations for planning your trip

For more travel ideas, you can also explore San Giovanni Rotondo, Poggio Imperiale, Ischitella, Segezia, Manfredonia, Zapponeta, Foce Varano and Lesina.

For the higher-level travel overview: Foggia.