Barletta, Medieval city in Puglia, Italy
Barletta is a city in the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani in the Puglia region on the Adriatic coast of Italy. The old town is crossed by narrow lanes with limestone facades, spreading around several public squares and churches with Romanesque towers.
The city arose in Roman times as a trading port and grew during the Middle Ages under Norman rule, when the castle was built to protect the coast. During the Renaissance it flourished as a trading center for wine and olive oil across the Adriatic.
The city name may come from the Latin word for small barrel, once common in trading warehouses here. Today Via Duomo is the busiest street, where locals stroll in the evening and hold conversations in the small squares.
The old town core is best explored on foot, as many streets are closed to traffic or narrow. The waterfront promenade along the harbor offers a quiet walking route and runs all the way to the southern edge of the city.
The cathedral preserves a relic of Saint Ruggero, whose silver bust is carried through the city during processions. Each year believers from surrounding villages gather for this celebration, which lasts several days.
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