Giovinazzo Town: Where History and Nature Meet in Italy

Hi friends. I frequently visit Giovinazzo and realized I haven’t mentioned it in my posts before. Today I want to show you this town from a different perspective. I'll share why I visit here so often and what I do when I'm here. And during this visit, I entered a church I had never been in before and took a stroll around the town in the afternoon. Giovinazzo is a place I really like. Many people from Apulia also come here to enjoy walking.

While exploring I came across a door with a knocker. This little knocker was so charming. I began to wander around the city center. For the first time here, I saw jellyfish in the Adriatic Sea. From above they looked like buttons stuck to the concrete, but they were actually jellyfish. I wondered if these gray creatures were poisonous. An elderly man nearby told me they were a special type called egg-white jellyfish. They feed on small fish and are generally harmless.

At the entrance to the old town I encountered an interesting structure: the Trajan Arch. It is said that this arch was built by Emperor Trajan to reinforce the city's walls. Although this arch was built in the 14th century, its columns are much older. These columns were originally part of the Via Trajana road from Rome to Brindisi and are likely from the first century. All four columns have ancient inscriptions. It’s truly an interesting historical structure.

So, why do I visit this town so often? It’s an incredibly authentic and peaceful place. With its white-stone streets, arches, steps and unique architecture, it's a fantastic place for photography. I especially enjoy coming here with my friends to take photos. I also love having breakfast or ice cream at the café here. Spending time at a café with a view of the harbor is especially delightful. My niece also loves it here because there are two parks for children, which are very fun. Many families with children spend time here, so it’s quite crowded and lively.

Later I visited a church. I had seen this church for a long time but had never entered it. Its large dome immediately catches your attention as you pass through the city. This church is the Santa Agostina Church, built to replace the old San Agostino Church by the Biancetti family in 1507. It has been rebuilt several times over the years and was completed in its current form in 1769. It has a wonderful classical-style façade completed in 1879.

As I mentioned before I said I visited one church, but actually I visited two. The San Domenico Church is located in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II in the city center. This church was built in 1704 along with the Dominican monastery. The monastery was outside the city walls, but as the city expanded, this area became part of the city. The most impressive aspect of the church is the view of the square you see when you step out of its door. It’s truly breathtaking.

Afterward I met a friend and we went to a pizzeria located in a small square near the harbor for dinner. This pizzeria, named “Mattarella” carries the surname of Italian President Sergio Mattarella. The pizza I had here was one of the most delicious I’ve ever had in Italy. It was delicious enough to compete with the pizzas in Naples. If you find yourself here, I highly recommend trying this pizzeria.

I continued exploring and came across the Duke's Palace, a small but impressive structure in the city. Continuing from the palace we arrived at the Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral. This cathedral is the most important religious building in the city and was constructed during the Norman period in the 10th century. Inside the cathedral you can see works by the local artist Carlo Rosa. There is also an ancient and miraculous icon believed to be very old.

That concludes my visit to Giovinazzo. See you on the next trips, my friends.