CULTURE AND FOOD

Ofanto is also a natural communication route, whose valley was in the past a crossroads of numerous civilizations from the Daunians to the court of Frederick II, passing through the conquest of the Normans. Each of them has left tangible marks on culture and food.

Heritage between Daunia and Imperial Puglia

Going up the course of the Ofanto river, we come across surprising historical testimonies such as the masterpiece of the Griffins in the museum of Ascoli Satriano, the famous archaeological site of Canne della Battaglia and Canosa, the Apulian city with the richest archaeological heritage from pre-Roman and Roman times. And, again, along the Via Appia stands – not far from the valley – Venosa, the city of Orazio, the poet of Carpe Diem.

Barletta is the city of the painter Giuseppe De Nittis who dedicated famous works to the Ofanto river, some of which are preserved in the city in the Pinacoteca of Palazzo della Marra. Starting from Barletta, it is easy to reach by train the Apulian hinterland with its traditions and villages, such as Minervino Murge, the balcony of Puglia.

The Bacchant’s Way

The Ofanto civilization is also fully revived in the cultural and gastronomic traditions, in the authenticity of baked products such as taralli or “scaldatelli”, in the wisdom of the olive tree pruners and in the care of the vines among which the quality of Nero di Troia stands out in the valley of ‘Ofanto one of its most important basins and which according to legend were planted right here by the Greek Diomedes. The valley is also the production area of ​​two of the most important varieties of olives, the giant Bella della Daunia (Bella di Cerignola) and the Coratina, the typical Apulian oil with a spicy and intense flavor.