Martina Franca

 

Martina Franca is another showcase for the Baroque and rococo architecture style. Philip of Anjou expanded the town, built the wall for protection. At the time there were 12 square and 12 round guard towers. It must have been quite the sight. Today Baroque gates leading to piazzas and narrow, winding streets. Piazza Roma is the largest square in the old town, with a green space in the centre of a largely triangular grass pattern, facing the 17th-century Palazzo Ducale.

He also gave the down a number of franchises and that is what the name, franca, is based upon.

The Ducale Palace, dates to 1668, was built on the foundations of an ancient castle of Raimondello Orsini from 1338. In front is the Fontana Of the Dolphins. The palace of the Caracciolo Family had over 300 rooms. It now houses historical archives although and you can walk through many of the rooms - some with lavish paintings floor to ceiling. There was, of course there always seem to be, a wedding taking place just as we approached the Cathedral.

If you are a music fan, and can handle the tourists in July or August, that is the time of the year when the Opera Fetival della Valle d'Itria is held.

This is another of the towns with good rail service. The Bari–Martina–Taranto and Martina–Lecce line come to this town.