Discover Andria: Castel del Monte and culture

Andria brings together striking reminders of its history and a landscape that stretches into the Parco Nazionale dell’Alta Murgia. Castel del Monte is a 13th-century octagonal fortress commissioned by Federico II di Svevia. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it defines the image of the destination. Churches, a Renaissance palace and a museum dedicated to the history of confectionery also offer different ways to discover Andria.

Culture and history in Andria

The Sacra Spina and the relics of San Riccardo are venerated in the Cattedrale “Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo.” According to tradition, the Sacra Spina is part of Jesus’ crown of thorns; San Riccardo was Bishop of Andria. The crypt holds the remains of Jolanda Di Brienne and Isabella d’Inghilterra, two wives of Federico II di Svevia. The cathedral thus brings religious tradition and the history of the Swabian emperor together in one place.

The city is also known as the “Città dei tre campanili”: the cathedral’s bell tower, together with the towers of the Chiesa di San Domenico and the Chiesa di San Francesco, forms the symbol of Andria. The Santuario di Santa Maria dei Miracoli offers a different architectural feature. It consists of an upper basilica, the Cappella della Crocifissione and a grotto. The Holy Image of the Madonna dei Miracoli, co-patroness of Andria, is kept there.

The Palazzo Ducale stands in the historic centre. This 16th-century Renaissance building now houses exhibition and cultural spaces; its restoration and redevelopment are ongoing. The Museo del Confetto “Giovanni Mucci,” housed in the former premises of the historic factory, offers another perspective on the city’s history. Four sections present documents, tools, machines and moulds relating to the history of the Mucci family’s artisanal confectionery.

Alta Murgia: landscape and trails

The landscape is a key feature of Andria: 12,000 hectares of the municipal area lie within the Parco Nazionale dell’Alta Murgia, established in 2004. The area’s natural and historical diversity includes the Lama di Santa Margherita, a place of landscape, archaeological and architectural importance. Several caves line its banks, including some where the image of the Madonna dei Miracoli was found. The Lama is also distinguished by lush vegetation that is, in part, rare and unique.

The national park’s routes vary in their landscapes and stated distances. Route H is 22 km long in total. It starts at the rural church of Santa Lucia and follows low-traffic roads along the route of old local post roads. Along the way, it passes through typical Murgia countryside, with small plots cultivated with olive and almond trees. Route G, in turn, crosses Mediterranean grassland and follows unpaved paths through the pine forest around Castel del Monte, reaching the entrance to the castle. You can therefore choose a route based on the landscape it offers, without treating the two trails as the same route.

Getting to Castel del Monte

From Andria, you can reach Castel del Monte on city bus line 6. The bus runs from the Terminal Bus at Piazza Marinai d’Italia to Castel del Monte. Timetables and fares may change, so check the information before your trip. When looking for a hotel in Andria, the cultural sites and the landscape of the Alta Murgia offer different starting points for choosing a destination that suits your travel interests.

Discover more destinations: Cassano Delle Murge, Conversano, Torre A Mare, Turi, Rutigliano, Noicattaro, Santo Spirito, Cozzana.

Back to the main travel overview: Bari.