Gioia del Colle: discover the city of Wine “Primitivo” and Mozzarella “Fior di Latte”.

Gioia del Colle town famous for mozzarella “fior di latte” and wine Primitivo wine.

Its name derives from Joha, nickname for Joannakis, which was a Byzantine family present in these places in the Middle Ages. But there are many views on the origin of the name. The town of Gioia del Colle was born around a castle of Byzantine origins. It was rebuilt by the Norman Richard Siniscalco, and it was then destroyed by William I of Sicily known as the “Malo”. It was refounded in 1230 by Frederick II of Swabia on return from Crusade. It seems that the castle was a residence where he used to stop while hunting. It was completed by the Angevins who opened its windows. Between 1600 and 1800 following owners (the Acquaviva d’Aragona, De Mari, and Donna Maria Emanuela Caracciolo) have removed its aspect of a fortified residence. In this castle Bianca Lancia was probably locked during her pregnancy of Manfredi of Sicily, because suspected of having betrayed Federico II. On the wall of a cell (in which most likely was locked the princess) are, in fact, sculpted forms which according to the legend should represent Bianca Lancia’s breast that she got cut for the pain of such a humiliation. After giving birth she sent on a silver platter to Frederick the alleged illegitimate child with her breast. For others this is just a legend: Bianca Lancia asked to legitimize the children during their regular relationship with a wedding just before she died. Still others say that it was Frederick II to die after their marriage. Gioia was founded under the Byzantine rule and then, under the Norman, it was entrusted to Count Richard of Altavilla. Frederick II was responsible for the reconstruction of the castle. It was under the principality of Taranto and of the principles of De Mari Acquaviva up to the abolition of feudalism. In 1647 the Gioiesi turned against the Count of Conversano and feudatory of Gioia, Gian Girolamo Acquaviva, but the earl, in order to stop the revolt, headed the army threatening Gioia to set fire to the town: he achieved the immediate surrender of the city and riot’s chiefs were immediately killed. During the Napoleonic domination, particularly during the reign of Joachim Murat the law that sanctioned the abolition of feudalism was enacted (1806), the consolidation of local government was undertaken and the viability was improved. After years of economic and social difficulties, during the nineteenth century, the lotting of 3,000 hectares of land almost completely covered with bush, in hundreds of shares, favoured the improvement of living conditions of laborers and artisans and let the formation of small land ownership. The intensification of farming then stimulated the development of industries connected with the processing of agricultural products. Local production was further stimulated after the inauguration of the railway Bari-Taranto (1865), which facilitated trade between Gioia and the two cities of Bari and Taranto. By creating a thriving industry of processing, Gioia del Colle went out quickly from a socio-economic backward and provincial, becoming one of the most prosperous town in the province of Bari.

Main sights:

• Church: Immacolata, St. Francis, St. Maria Maggiore, St. Vito Martire
• Norman-Swabian castle
• Rossini Theatre
• Archaeological Park of Monte Sannace