Martina Franca: everything there is to see

The territory of Martina Franca is famous for the splendid villages and scenarios that are presented to visitors of the most authentic and sincere Puglia. Martina Franca is located in the Itria Valley, in the province of Taranto, surrounded by a landscape rich in vegetation, including many olive groves ... a lively and colorful village. The hinterland of Puglia is one of the most fascinating and varied areas, even if the most visited part of the region remains the coastal one. In Martina Franca, you will not find the sea, but you will be able to discover truly special cultural, archaeological, historical, and food and wine traditions that have made Puglia famous in the world.

The historic center of Martina Franca

Martina Franca looks like a baroque town a few kilometers from the trulli of Alberobello. It is located 400 meters above sea level on a karst plateau where many prehistoric populations lived. It was Philip I of Anjou who renamed it Martina Franca, precisely because of the privileges and franchises enjoyed by this city.

In the 16th century, the city experienced its greatest splendor, and the most beautiful monuments and palaces in the historic center date from this period: here the Baroque is at its best in the buildings, where it takes on special connotations, so much so that one speaks of the Martinese Baroque. The Basilica of San Martino, built in the eighteenth century, is an imposing and majestic building dedicated to the patron saint. Inside you can see several works of art and the relics of Santa Comasia. In the historical center of Martina Franca, you will find other churches of note, but this one remains one of the most beautiful in the whole south.

As for the civil buildings, the Doge's Palace is certainly one of the most beautiful and ancient in the city. Built in the seventeenth century, today it is the seat of the Town Hall, and inside there are some truly fantastic frescoed rooms, such as that of Arcadia, Myth, and the Bible. Palazzo Turnone, on the other hand, is even older, dating back to the Angevin period, while one of the most interesting places in the city is the Villa Comunale, where you can stroll along the shady paths and enjoy the jet of water from the beautiful marble fountains.

Need another reason to visit Martina Franca? Surely you cannot miss the food and wine delicacies that this area has to offer. The local olive groves are certainly a pride of the area and there are many farms that make their products available to travelers.