Epitaffio, Bell tower monument at Via Alessandro Manzoni, Foggia, Italy
Epitaffio is a bell tower monument in Foggia that stands at the end of Via Alessandro Manzoni, marking the historic sheep migration route. The structure is a vertical stone edifice that sits in a central location, commemorating the connection between mountain regions and southern plains.
The monument was erected in 1651 during Spanish rule under Philip IV to mark the reorganized herding paths connecting L'Aquila and Foggia. This period marked a redefinition of migration routes that had long been central to regional economy and rural life.
This location served as a gathering point where herders and merchants paused during their long journeys to rest and water their flocks. Visitors can still sense the role this place played in the lives of people who moved constantly between distant regions.
The monument sits near Piazza Sant'Eligio in central Foggia and is easily reached on foot from the main areas. The location is flat and accessible, making it easy to discover while walking through the city.
An inscription on the structure documents a specific boundary reorganization decision from the Spanish period that formalized the herding routes. This administrative marking shows how the routes were officially regulated rather than simply following natural migration patterns.
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