Brezza tra gli Ulivi

    ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE AND HISTORY IN A BREEZE AMONG THE OLIVE TREES: AN ITINERARY FOR ADULTS
    Not included

    ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE AND HISTORY IN A BREEZE AMONG THE OLIVE TREES: AN ITINERARY FOR ADULTS

    20 min

    A journey of discovery through Brezza tra gli Ulivi. Strolling among dry stone walls, ancient wells, and coastal watchtowers, you will uncover centuries of history and defensive strategies. Amid breathtaking panoramas and the tranquility of the masseria, the itinerary reveals the deep bond between people, landscape, and local traditions.

    OIL, COOKING AND TRADITION IN A BREEZE AMONG THE OLIVE TREES: AN ITINERARY FOR ADULTS
    Not included

    OIL, COOKING AND TRADITION IN A BREEZE AMONG THE OLIVE TREES: AN ITINERARY FOR ADULTS

    20 min

    Within the welcoming Brezza tra gli Ulivi, you will immerse yourself in the heart of Puglian tradition among olive groves, organic gardens, and the fragrance of freshly pressed oil. You will discover the history and secrets of extra virgin olive oil production, the authentic flavors of local cuisine, and the aromatic plants of the masseria. A sensory experience that brings together taste, culture, and respect for nature, celebrating the richness of the land.

    FOLLOWING TANO'S TRAIL: AN ITINERARY FOR CHILDREN
    Not included

    FOLLOWING TANO'S TRAIL: AN ITINERARY FOR CHILDREN

    20 min

    Starting from the magical Breeze Among the Olive Trees, children will follow Tano, the friendly monster of the Pantano, on a journey of discovery through olive groves, trulli and ancient farmhouses. Through quizzes and stories, they will learn about the history and traditions of Puglia while having fun. An outdoor adventure that brings together nature, play and the exploration of the local area.

    THE JOURNEY OF TASTE WITH TANO: AN ITINERARY FOR CHILDREN
    Not included

    THE JOURNEY OF TASTE WITH TANO: AN ITINERARY FOR CHILDREN

    20 min

    Discovering flavours and fragrances starting from the Breeze among the Olive Trees, children will follow Tano through organic vegetable gardens, olive groves and farm animals. An immersive journey into nature and local flavours, blending play, learning and wonder.

    DISCOVERING BISCEGLIE
    Not included

    DISCOVERING BISCEGLIE

    30 min

    Starting from the welcoming Brezza tra gli Ulivi, you will explore the historic heart of Bisceglie, wandering through the old town, the harbour, and the mysterious prehistoric dolmens. Each stop unveils centuries of history and local traditions, from medieval alleyways to breathtaking views of the sea. A journey that brings together culture, landscape, and the authentic charm of this Adriatic city.

    ON THE TRAILS OF FREDERICK II, THE WONDER OF THE WORLD: TRANI AND ANDRIA Frederick II of Swabia, known as *Stupor Mundi* — "the Wonder of the World" — was one of the most extraordinary and fascinating figures of the entire Middle Ages. Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, King of Sicily, Jerusalem, and Germany, he was a man of vast culture, a patron of the arts, a poet, a scientist, and a legislator ahead of his time. His reign, spanning the first half of the thirteenth century, left an indelible mark on Southern Italy, a land he loved deeply and chose as the true heart of his empire. Among the places most closely linked to his memory, two Apulian cities stand out in particular: Trani and Andria. Both bear the traces of his passage — in stone, in history, and in legend — and together they offer a journey through time that is as evocative as it is enlightening. **Trani: The Pearl of the Adriatic** Trani is one of those cities that takes your breath away at first sight. Its historic center rises directly from the sea, and its cathedral — one of the most beautiful examples of Apulian Romanesque architecture — seems to emerge from the waters of the Adriatic like a vision from another age. It was precisely this city that Frederick II chose as one of his favorite residences in Apulia, and it was here that he promulgated one of the most important legal documents of the medieval period: the *Constitutions of Melfi*, also known as the *Liber Augustalis*, in 1231. This extraordinary legislative code — innovative for its time — established a centralized and rational system of government, drawing on Roman law, Norman traditions, and Islamic administrative practices. It was a reflection of Frederick's unique personality: a man who was able to synthesize different cultures and traditions into a coherent and visionary whole. In Trani, the memory of Frederick is also linked to the castle that bears his name — the *Castello Svevo di Trani* — a powerful and elegant fortress built directly on the sea. Commissioned by the emperor himself around 1233, the castle was designed both as a military stronghold and as an imperial residence. Its square plan, flanked by four towers, reflects the geometric rigor and aesthetic refinement that characterized Swabian architecture throughout the region. Walking through the streets of Trani today, one can still feel the echo of that glorious past. The old Jewish quarter, one of the best-preserved in Southern Italy, bears witness to the cosmopolitan and tolerant spirit that Frederick encouraged within his kingdom — a kingdom where Christians, Muslims, and Jews lived and worked side by side, contributing to one of the most vibrant intellectual and cultural climates of the medieval world. **Andria: The City of the Two Queens** If Trani represents the political and legislative dimension of Frederick's reign, Andria speaks to his more intimate and personal side. This city, nestled in the heart of the Murge plateau, was deeply loved by the emperor, who chose it as the burial place of two of his wives: Yolanda of Brienne, Queen of Jerusalem, who died in 1228, and Isabella of England, who died in 1241. Their tombs, preserved in the Cathedral of Andria, are a moving testimony to the human side of a man who is often remembered only for his political and intellectual achievements. But it is above all for Castel del Monte that Andria is universally known — perhaps the most iconic and mysterious of all Frederick's architectural creations. Rising in solitary majesty on a gentle hill overlooking the Apulian plain, this extraordinary octagonal castle has fascinated scholars, historians, and travelers for centuries. Built around 1240, it combines elements of Gothic, Romanesque, Islamic, and classical architecture in a synthesis that is as harmonious as it is enigmatic. The number eight — the shape of the castle's plan, the number of its towers, the number of rooms on each floor — has given rise to countless interpretations. Some see in it a reference to the imperial crown, others a symbol of the union between heaven and earth, others still a sophisticated astronomical instrument designed to capture and celebrate the movements of the sun. Whatever its original purpose, Castel del Monte remains one of the most remarkable buildings of the entire Middle Ages, and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. To visit Castel del Monte is to enter a world suspended between history and mystery, between the rational and the transcendent. It is to come face to face with the genius of a man who refused to accept the boundaries of his time — a man who looked to the stars even as he governed an empire. **A Journey Through Time** Traveling through Trani and Andria in the footsteps of Frederick II means embarking on a journey that goes far beyond the simple discovery of monuments and historical sites. It means immersing oneself in a world that was, in many ways, astonishingly modern — a world in which culture, science, art, and politics were intertwined in ways that still resonate today. Frederick II was a man of contradictions: feared and admired, excommunicated by the Pope and yet deeply religious in his own way, a warrior and a poet, a tyrant and a visionary. He spoke six languages — Latin, Sicilian, German, French, Greek, and Arabic — and surrounded himself with the greatest minds of his age, from the mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci to the philosopher Michael Scot. His legacy in Apulia is not merely architectural. It is written in the very identity of this land — in its openness to the world, in its capacity to absorb and transform different cultures, in the quiet pride with which it preserves the memory of a time when it stood at the very center of the known world. To walk in the footsteps of Frederick II, the *Stupor Mundi*, is to understand something essential about the history of Italy and of Europe — and perhaps, too, about the enduring human desire to build something that will last beyond the brief span of a single life.
    Not included

    ON THE TRAILS OF FREDERICK II, THE WONDER OF THE WORLD: TRANI AND ANDRIA Frederick II of Swabia, known as *Stupor Mundi* — "the Wonder of the World" — was one of the most extraordinary and fascinating figures of the entire Middle Ages. Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, King of Sicily, Jerusalem, and Germany, he was a man of vast culture, a patron of the arts, a poet, a scientist, and a legislator ahead of his time. His reign, spanning the first half of the thirteenth century, left an indelible mark on Southern Italy, a land he loved deeply and chose as the true heart of his empire. Among the places most closely linked to his memory, two Apulian cities stand out in particular: Trani and Andria. Both bear the traces of his passage — in stone, in history, and in legend — and together they offer a journey through time that is as evocative as it is enlightening. **Trani: The Pearl of the Adriatic** Trani is one of those cities that takes your breath away at first sight. Its historic center rises directly from the sea, and its cathedral — one of the most beautiful examples of Apulian Romanesque architecture — seems to emerge from the waters of the Adriatic like a vision from another age. It was precisely this city that Frederick II chose as one of his favorite residences in Apulia, and it was here that he promulgated one of the most important legal documents of the medieval period: the *Constitutions of Melfi*, also known as the *Liber Augustalis*, in 1231. This extraordinary legislative code — innovative for its time — established a centralized and rational system of government, drawing on Roman law, Norman traditions, and Islamic administrative practices. It was a reflection of Frederick's unique personality: a man who was able to synthesize different cultures and traditions into a coherent and visionary whole. In Trani, the memory of Frederick is also linked to the castle that bears his name — the *Castello Svevo di Trani* — a powerful and elegant fortress built directly on the sea. Commissioned by the emperor himself around 1233, the castle was designed both as a military stronghold and as an imperial residence. Its square plan, flanked by four towers, reflects the geometric rigor and aesthetic refinement that characterized Swabian architecture throughout the region. Walking through the streets of Trani today, one can still feel the echo of that glorious past. The old Jewish quarter, one of the best-preserved in Southern Italy, bears witness to the cosmopolitan and tolerant spirit that Frederick encouraged within his kingdom — a kingdom where Christians, Muslims, and Jews lived and worked side by side, contributing to one of the most vibrant intellectual and cultural climates of the medieval world. **Andria: The City of the Two Queens** If Trani represents the political and legislative dimension of Frederick's reign, Andria speaks to his more intimate and personal side. This city, nestled in the heart of the Murge plateau, was deeply loved by the emperor, who chose it as the burial place of two of his wives: Yolanda of Brienne, Queen of Jerusalem, who died in 1228, and Isabella of England, who died in 1241. Their tombs, preserved in the Cathedral of Andria, are a moving testimony to the human side of a man who is often remembered only for his political and intellectual achievements. But it is above all for Castel del Monte that Andria is universally known — perhaps the most iconic and mysterious of all Frederick's architectural creations. Rising in solitary majesty on a gentle hill overlooking the Apulian plain, this extraordinary octagonal castle has fascinated scholars, historians, and travelers for centuries. Built around 1240, it combines elements of Gothic, Romanesque, Islamic, and classical architecture in a synthesis that is as harmonious as it is enigmatic. The number eight — the shape of the castle's plan, the number of its towers, the number of rooms on each floor — has given rise to countless interpretations. Some see in it a reference to the imperial crown, others a symbol of the union between heaven and earth, others still a sophisticated astronomical instrument designed to capture and celebrate the movements of the sun. Whatever its original purpose, Castel del Monte remains one of the most remarkable buildings of the entire Middle Ages, and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. To visit Castel del Monte is to enter a world suspended between history and mystery, between the rational and the transcendent. It is to come face to face with the genius of a man who refused to accept the boundaries of his time — a man who looked to the stars even as he governed an empire. **A Journey Through Time** Traveling through Trani and Andria in the footsteps of Frederick II means embarking on a journey that goes far beyond the simple discovery of monuments and historical sites. It means immersing oneself in a world that was, in many ways, astonishingly modern — a world in which culture, science, art, and politics were intertwined in ways that still resonate today. Frederick II was a man of contradictions: feared and admired, excommunicated by the Pope and yet deeply religious in his own way, a warrior and a poet, a tyrant and a visionary. He spoke six languages — Latin, Sicilian, German, French, Greek, and Arabic — and surrounded himself with the greatest minds of his age, from the mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci to the philosopher Michael Scot. His legacy in Apulia is not merely architectural. It is written in the very identity of this land — in its openness to the world, in its capacity to absorb and transform different cultures, in the quiet pride with which it preserves the memory of a time when it stood at the very center of the known world. To walk in the footsteps of Frederick II, the *Stupor Mundi*, is to understand something essential about the history of Italy and of Europe — and perhaps, too, about the enduring human desire to build something that will last beyond the brief span of a single life.

    30 min

    With this itinerary, you will discover the wonders of the Frederician era, from the Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino to the Swabian Castle of Trani, all the way to the legendary Castel del Monte. You will explore architecture, history, and unique panoramas, between the sea and the plateaus. An itinerary that tells the story of the genius of Frederick II and the beauty of the Apulian villages.

    ITRIA VALLEY
    Not included

    ITRIA VALLEY

    30 min

    With this itinerary, you will journey through the Itria Valley, exploring the trulli of Alberobello, the circular village of Locorotondo, and the elegant Baroque architecture of Martina Franca. Each village tells its own story of history, art, and local traditions, set amidst landscapes of vineyards and olive groves. An open-air journey through unique architecture, vibrant colors, and unforgettable panoramas.

    BARI AND POLIGNANO A MARE: COASTAL LANDSCAPES AND FOOD AND WINE TRADITIONS
    Not included

    BARI AND POLIGNANO A MARE: COASTAL LANDSCAPES AND FOOD AND WINE TRADITIONS

    30 min

    This itinerary takes you through the coastal landscapes of Bari and Polignano a Mare, among historic alleyways and panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea. You will discover authentic flavors and local food and wine traditions, tasting typical products and Apulian delicacies. A journey that combines culture, nature, and taste, to experience Puglia with all your senses.

    Brezza tra gli Ulivi