Gioia del Colle

Gioia del Colle is a delightful village of Byzantine origins, surrounded by the beauty of the Murge plateau, in the province of Bari.

Your walk should start from the Norman-Swabian Castle, that stands out for its beauty and grandeur in the heart of the ancient center. It’s now home to the National Archaeological Museum, a unique place where you can admire precious historical finds. 

Other points of interest are: the Museum of Rural Life, the karst caves scattered throughout the area, the Palazzo Comunale with the photo library and art gallery, the Municipal Library, the Church of the Annunziata, the Naturalistic Museum of Monte Rotondo, industrial archaeological remains such as the Cassano Distilleries and the Pagano Mills and rural farms. Furthermore, at the Teatro Comunale G. Rossini, you can attend numerous performances of prose, dance and musical concerts.

Gioia del Colle is home to an Italian Air Force base, the 36th wing, the most "decorated" of the national air bases. Not everyone knows that from this airport on October 4th of 1917 Gabriele D'Annunzio took off on his historic Flight over Cattaro.