The Normans appeared in the region in the 11th century as mercenaries
of Melo, the sovereign of Bari and, even though they were initially
defeated by the Byzantines, until 1071 they had conquered and plundered
the region and had also managed to impose as governor of the region
the Normand Roberto Guiscardo, Duke of Apulia and Calabria. In the
centuries to come, the region was subjugated to alternating conquerors
emanating from the Francs of Western Europe. During the 11th and until
the13th century the region developed significantly, since it was a
place of departure for the Crusades to the East and Istanbul.
The next conquerors of the area were the Swabians (1189), the Angevins
(1266) the Aragonese (1442), the Spanish (1503-1707) and the Bourbons
(1738-1860), periods during which the region was under the yoke of
feudal administration.
During the French decade (1806-1815) the king of the dynasty Joachim
Murat, abolished feudalism and thus began the invigoration of the region
and the harbour of Taranto. Apulia was united with Italy in 1860 and
shared the same fate with the Italian state ever since.
On the contrary, from the medieval period, almost 30 castles are preserved,
spread throughout Apulia, bearing witness to the conquerors that passed
from there.
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The remains of an old Christian Basilica in Canosa...
Picture © Ápulia – A guide to the culture of Apulia |
...and the church of San Pietro in Otranto dating back to the 10th century A.D.
Picture © Ápulia – A guide to the culture of Apulia |
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The Cattolica Church (meaning in Greek the Catholic
of a monastery) in Stilo of Calabria, dating back to the 9th
century A.D. ... |
...the church of Santa Maria Panaghia in Rossano... |
...and the Oratorio di S. Marco, the former
Aghia Anastasia, are representative samples of
ecclesiastical architecture of the Byzantine era in South Italy. |
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The Otranto castle from the period of the Aragonese conquerors in the 15th century
© Puglia seen from Heaven – Pictures’ © Luca Di Napoli |
The Barletta castle, the core of which was built by the Normans and was constructed in its final shape in the 16th century
© Puglia seen from Heaven – Pictures’
© Luca Di Napoli |
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The rulers of South Italy and Apulia and their
place of origin. Apulia united with the rest of Italy in 1860.
The dates are indicative since in sections of the area several
conquerors alternated with each other. |
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