Palo del Colle - Palo del Colle

Palo del Colle (commonly Pole), is a city of the Puglia, located a few kilometers from Bari.

To know

Among the places of interest of Paolo al Colle are the delightful old town, where the ancient artisan shops make the tourist feel as if time had stopped in a distant era, and the beautiful Mother Church dedicated to the Virgin dating back to the fourteenth century, interesting example of Apulian Romanesque architecture.

Geographical Notes

Palo del Colle owes its name to its geographical position, being located on a hill 177 m a.s.l. The ancient inhabitants of the area chose to move to this hill in order to enjoy the clean air, guaranteed by the distance from the ponds that were downstream.

Background

Its origins date back to the first centuries BC: in fact, the first written testimony on its existence is found in the Naturalis historia (77-78 AD) by Pliny the Elder, which includes i Palionenses among the ancient inhabitants of Regio II. Bearing in mind the authoritativeness of the information that Pliny the Elder had received, the fact that he mentioned the Palionenses population, probably omitting others, may be an indicator of the fame and importance that Palo enjoyed in antiquity.

When to go

There is no better time to visit Palo del Colle, as its geographical position allows you to enjoy the advantages of Mediterranean climate even in the coldest months. Summers are usually hot and dry, while winters are cold, occasionally accompanied by snow.

How to orient yourself

Finding your way around Palo del Colle is quite easy as all the major places of interest are located near its center, from which you can easily reach both the main churches and the ancient village.

Neighborhoods

• Farmhouse of the Greeks
• Castle
• Langilana
• Madonna of the Star
• Royal Gate
• St. Joseph
• San Rocco
• San Sebastian
• San Vito
• Holy Spirit

Fractions

• Auricarro

How to get

By plane

The nearest airport is that of Bari-Palese.

By car

The car is the best way to reach Palo del Colle, especially if you want to avoid the long waits due to public transport.

• From Northern Italy it can be reached by taking the motorway Bologna-Taranto.
• From Bari via the Bari.
• From Matera through the roads is .

On the train

The municipality of Palo is served by Appulo Lucane Railways. The station is located in Piazzale Domenico Guaccero and is located on the connecting railway line Bari, Altamura and Matera.

By bus

Road transport to and from Palo del Colle is guaranteed both by the Appulo Lucane Railways and by Provincial Transport Company.

How to get around

Through the streets of the historic center it is possible to move only on foot.

What see

The historic center of the town is dotted with a variety of churches and squares built in perfect baroque and neoclassical style.

• Church of San Giuseppe, Diaz square. Neoclassical church with a hexagonal plan built by the homonymous brotherhood. Construction work began in the first half of the 19th century, while its bell tower was built around 1850. 
• Church of Santa Maria la Porta, Via della Minerva, ☎ 39 080 625050. Free. The church of Santa Maria la Porta, built in the 12th century, stands on the highest point of Palo del Colle. The church is dedicated to Santa Maria la Porta, protector of the town. The north facade of the structure overlooks the imposing and romantic Piazza Santa Croce. Still on the north facade, we can admire the fourteenth-century bell tower, jargon called "Spione". Sometimes it is possible to climb to the top of the tower to enjoy the rural landscape and the view of the city from above. 
• Church of Santa Maria di Juso, Via Binetto. This small church is only open on the occasion of the "day of the angel", precisely one week after Easter. On this particular day, the inhabitants of Palo go to this place to attend the liturgical function hoping to meet the angel who showed himself to the women in front of Christ's tomb. The word "JUSO", in local jargon, means something that is located below, referring to the valley of the town. 
• Filomarino Palace of the Rocca, Piazza Santa Croce. This imposing construction is what remains of the palace built by Frederick II of Sweden in the thirteenth century. Unfortunately the main facade was restored in the 19th century, giving the building a neoclassical look. 
• Piazza Santa Croce. This historic square features the main attractions of the town such as, for example, the church of Santa Maria la Porta (the mother church) with its tower, the church of Purgatory, the Palazzo del Principe and the Palazzo delle Mura. 

Events and parties

• Palio del Viccio, @[email protected]. free. The event that most of all animates the life of this town. It is an equestrian tournament whose most remote traces seem to date back to the first century. A.D. The tournament, which takes place during the Shrove Tuesday, concludes the carnival celebrations, and every year attracts many onlookers from neighboring countries. The tournament takes place on Corso Garibaldi, one of the main streets of the town. 

What to do

Shopping

How to have fun

Where to eat

The foods that belong to the evident gastronomic tradition are i knniad, a soup of mixed legumes that can be cataloged in the so-called poor cuisine, and the taralli, a snack cooked in the oven that is often declined in many flavors and formats. Among the other foods that can be tasted in Palo are those of the Apulian and Bari tradition, for example: focaccia, panzerotti and orecchiette with turnip tops.

Moderate prices

• Borgo Bakery, Via Francesco Stampacchia, 23, ☎ 39 080 626112. Bread, focaccia, baked goods. 
• Bakery Saccente Snc, Via Giorgio la Pira, 57, ☎ 39 080 626711. Bread, focaccia, baked goods, food. 
• Pizzeria L'Artista, Via Savonarola, 20-22, ☎ 39 080 246 7538. Pizzeria. 
• La Fornarina pastry shop, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 22/22 / A, ☎ 39 080 627 595. 

Average prices

• Borghese tavern, Piazza Armando Diaz, 28, ☎ 39 080 248 3221. Restaurant, grill, local cuisine. 
• Dear mother, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 15, ☎ 39 080 624334. Restaurant, panzerotti, local cuisine. 

Where stay

Average prices

• Vincent Suite Luxury B&B, Via Venezia, 17. 
• Suite 30 sqm, Via Petrarca, 19. B&B. 
• B&B Il Principe, Via Giuseppe Verdi, 10/12. 

Safety

• Municipal Police Command, Via Umberto I, 56, ☎ 39 080 991 1807, @[email protected]. 
• Carabinieri Command Station Palo Del Colle, Viale Puglia, 6, ☎ 39 080 381 1920, @[email protected]. 

How to keep in touch

Post office

• Poste Italiane - Post Office of Palo del Colle, Via Biebescheim Am Rhein, 19, ☎ 39 080 9910 311. 

Around

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Palo del Colle
• Commons contains images or other files on Palo del Colle

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