The land of Federico II

Our journey begins inCanosa di Puglia(Barletta-Andria-Trani Province). This is the starting-point for a trip into theUpper Murgiaarea, one of the oldest wine-growing lands in Puglia, where some of the Region’s loveliest wineries welcome visitors all year round. These wineries are a pleasure to visit with their cellars and the farming implements from the past. Take a walk through the vineyards which are the origin of the local Doc wines, surrounded by the warmth of a friendly welcome. Discover the different interpretations of the local indigenous Nero di Troia variety in bothCanosa DocandCastel del Monte Doc, two wines which have a great structure and an impenetrable colour in common. Canosa was once known asCanusium, and the ancient site is now a destination for archaeology tourists, with its wealth of natural and artificial subterranean chambers: a necropolis, early Christian churches, buildings  dating back to Magna Graecia and Roman times, churches and palaces. The country all around, and along the road toMinervino Murge, is full of masserie – the typical farmsteads of the landed gentry, with barns, store rooms and accommodation for the farm workers, and often home also to the landowners themselves. Other signs of a deep-rooted tradition of livestock grazing are the typical buildings to be seen in the countryside: the Poste (surrounded by dry-stone walls) are primitive “hotels” on the drove roads; the Jazzi are sheep stations; the Masserie became the landowners’ headquarters in the 17th century, and now welcome guests with a timeless hospitality. The colours and fragrances of its “fruits” – like new olive oil, wild edible thistles and cardoncello mushrooms from the Murgia – make autumn the ideal season of the year to follow this route. It also winds its way through the delightful old town of Minervino, the Scesciola – whose name is a legacy of the Arab domination of Puglia over a thousand years ago. A walk through this old area of the town gives the feeling of being in a maze, with its dense labyrinth of winding streets, low arches and stone stairways. The next stop isAndria, another agricultural city, and world leader in the production of extra virgin olive oil. Andria is also famous for its dairy products and above all for its majesticCastel del Monte– a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. It was built by theEmperor Frederick II, and although known as a “castle”, we still do not know exactly what its function was. TormarescaTenuta Bocca di LupoMinervino Murge (Bt)