Palo del Colle: Discover Church Art and Medieval History

Palo del Colle combines its medieval historic center with churches, historic buildings, and the history of Auricarro. At the heart of the medieval historic center lies Piazza Santa Croce, known as “terra di Palo.” The town is located at 177 m above sea level on the first step of the Murge.

Sacred Art and Churches

The Chiesa di Santa Maria La Porta was built in the 12th century and expanded and remodeled in the 16th century under Queen Bona Sforza. It has a 14th-century bell tower known as the “spione.” Inside, the church houses paintings and canvases by various artists, including the Flemish painter Gaspar Hovic, Quercia, and Carlo Rosa, who came from Bitonto. It also contains an altar dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament, made of sheet silver and gilded copper in 1751 by Francesco Avellino of the Neapolitan school.

Further examples of sacred art can be found in the Chiesa di San Rocco, which houses a wooden statue of Saint Roch from 1797, a work by Riccardo Brudaglio from Andria. The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta in San Sebastiano preserves 19th-century canvases depicting the Nativity of Mary, the Assumption, the Annunciation, and the Visitation of Mary. The Chiesa della Madonna di Juso, built in the 14th century, contains paintings attributed to the 15th-century painter Giovanni di Francia.

Palazzo and Medieval Architectural History

The Palazzo Filomarino Della Rocca incorporates the remains of a Hohenstaufen castle built in 1255 at the behest of Emperor Frederick II by the feudal lord Amerigo de Saveriis or Savarin. The rooms of the palazzo feature pointed arches, ribs, and groin vaults.

Auricarro: Evidence of a Turbulent Past

The Chiesa del SS. Crocifisso di Auricarro, formerly S. Maria della Croce, is part of the area’s history. Together with the ruins of the old castle, it is considered the only surviving evidence of the area’s turbulent past. A chapel dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta was very probably built in 1350. Before that, the troops of King Louis of Hungary had razed old Auricarro to the ground during the siege of the fief from July 15, 1349, to July 17, 1349.

Carnival and Guidance for Cycling Enthusiasts

The Palio del Viccio is a picturesque competition between the city districts held on the last day of Carnival. An interactive map of the cycling routes in Auricarro offers another way to explore the surrounding area. It shows the main routes and points of interest along the way, including historic masserie and viewpoints.

More Destinations

Molfetta, San Giorgio, Santeramo In Colle, Terlizzi, Alberobello, Bitetto, Conversano and Cassano Delle Murge

To the higher-level travel overview: Bari.