San Paolo Di Civitate: Hilltop Views and Archaeological History

San Paolo Di Civitate combines a hilltop setting with archaeological traces from several eras. It is also home to the Frantoio Didattico, which offers a guided tour of the olive mill and sensory activities focused on extra virgin olive oil. When choosing a destination, you can therefore consider landscape, history and the world of olive oil side by side.

Landscape Between Hills and Waterways

San Paolo Di Civitate is located on a hill. From there, you can see the Gargano and the first foothills of the Apennines. These two views shape the landscape around the town. The Fortore and smaller streams run through the municipal area; these waterways add another feature to the surrounding scenery. If you take landscape into account alongside cultural history when choosing a destination, you will find two distinct points of reference here: the elevated views and the municipal area crisscrossed by rivers and streams.

Civitate: Its Founding and Tower

The fortified town of Civitate was founded between 1018 and 1019 by Katapan Basilio Bojoannes. The Torre di Civitate, a massive tower with a rectangular ground plan, still stands. Its defensive features are typical of buildings in central and southern Italy dating from the late 11th to the 13th century. The date of the town’s founding and the broader period associated with the tower’s features are distinct historical reference points; together, they give Civitate’s history a broad chronological span.

The Battle of Civitate was fought on 17 and 18 June 1053 near San Paolo Di Civitate. It took place on the plain north of Apulia, where the Staina stream meets the Fortore, on a terraced hill above the valley and near the settlement of ancient Civitate. The historical event can also be understood through specific features of the landscape: the confluence, the hill and the location above the valley.

Museum and Archaeological Traces

The Museo Civico Archeologico is housed in the former monastery of Sant’Antonio di Padova. The Museo Archeologico di San Paolo di Civitate was founded by Municipal Council Resolution No. 8 of 29 February 1996. Its location and founding date offer two different perspectives: one on the historic building and the other on the museum’s institutional history.

The archaeological site of Tiati-Teanum Apulum-Civitate lies about 4 km northwest of San Paolo Di Civitate. On 7 August 1952, the Tomba degli Ori was discovered during construction work on drainage road No. 33 in Pezze della Chiesa. Excavations of a building along the route of the Regio Tratturo L’Aquila-Foggia documented a rectangular structure with a vestibule, a large cella and an entrance featuring a mosaic made of river pebbles.

The amphitheatre of Teanum Apulum had an irregular elliptical shape; the arena and seating area were probably cut into the natural slope. In 2020, structures belonging to an amphitheatre from the Imperial period, dating from the 1st to the 2nd century, were discovered at the site of Teanum Apulum. The cautious interpretation of the areas cut into the slope preserves an important nuance in the archaeological description.

A Taste of the World of Olive Oil

The Frantoio Didattico complements the historical and landscape themes with a sensory experience. The programme includes a guided tour of the olive mill and activities where you can explore the aromas and flavours of extra virgin olive oil. This focus differs from the archaeological sites: here, the emphasis is on experiencing the aroma and taste and learning about the olive mill.

If you are looking for a hotel for your trip to San Paolo Di Civitate, you can first consider whether the history of Civitate and Teanum Apulum, the hilly landscape or the olive oil experience will shape your stay. The dates help put the historical timeline in order: Civitate was founded in 1018–1019, followed by the battle of 1053; the tower’s defensive features are placed within the broader period from the late 11th to the 13th century.

Discover more destinations: San Marco La Catola, Volturara Appula, Tomaiolo, Rocchetta Sant'antonio, Lesina, Bovino, Troia, Lucera

For the main travel overview: Foggia.