Utente:Mimidigi/Sandbox

Trani: go next section

If you are in Trani and you have the possibility to go around also in the close cities, you should visit a close town, such as Barletta.

In only 7 minutes, by train, or more and less 10 minutes by car, you will be in another reality so similar to Trani, but at the same time so different. As you would have understood, in Puglia there are hundreds of cities so close among them, with similar uses and traditions, but each one with is own history and legends.

I would to tell you one particular event linked to Barletta. The legend of Didfida which is in part linked also to Trani.

13th February 1503 Square, Barletta

The legend tells that in 1503 took place a famous battle between 13 italians  and 13 french soldiers, between Andria and Corato, just out of Trani. French one were headed by the general La Motte, who offended the Italians during a dinner. The battle saw the victory of the Italians. It is typical to remember the final image of the fighting, that you can admire in the statue situated in the centre of 13TH February 1503 square, in Barletta.

Monument set in 'Piazza della Sfida'

There is also a Cantina dedicated to this event where you can see the typical dresses of that time and also the armature of the solders. In front of the Cantina della Disfida there is Piazza della Sfida where, in the centre, there is a sort of wall on which there are all the names of the soldiers who fought for the battle.

All of the historical centre streets which starts from the Street of Via Duomo are named with the name of each italian knight. It is the most important street of the historical centre because it takes you to the Cathedral and next to the Castle of Barletta. From this principal street starts 13 little streets named with the name of each solders.

If you are in September you are really lucky, because citizens have the tradition to celebrate this event each year among the second or the third week of September by reproducing the exact atmosphere of the time. You will find different flags in all the historical centre streets which represent the Spanish power, because in that time Spanish had the control of the reign of Naples and established in Barletta the administrative centre of their reign. And during the established day you will have the pleasure to assist to a cortege where hundreds of citizens wear the typical dresses of the time, someone will have the honor to represent Ettore Fieramosca, and often famous actors come in Barletta for this role, he will ride a horse by following the citizen being followed by other 13 knights riding an horse. At the end there is La motte in a sort of cage with is knights. During the cortege there are some battles among the knights and at the end the cortege arrives outside of the castle of Barletta where Fieramosca and La Motte show the last fighting of the battle.

As you can imagine it’s an important event for the citizens and it could be funny and exciting for you too, to live this experience with theme, at least once in your Italian holidays.