This town in the province of Taranto, in the south of Italy, is the Baroque capital of Apulia. Its monuments, in the elegant historic centre of the town, are its major attraction, along with the opera festival held in the neighbouring valley of Itria.
Martina Franca is right at the south of Italy, and despite putting on an appearance of modesty, nonetheless boasts a remarkable heritage, sought after by those who come to visit it from Bari and Brindisi. The town owes its elegance to a grand family, the Caracciolos, who ruled the place since the 16th century. Their reign was marked by the construction of churches and villas which transformed the town into the capital of the Baroque in Puglia, a title that it wears with pride today. You need merely to stroll through the elegant historic centre, studded with private mansions, and you will see just how splendid this historic heritage really is. The former Duke’s palace, the Palazzo Ducale (1688), the Clock Tower, Via Cavour and Via Mazzini with their Baroque villas, San Domenico church and San Martino basilica with its stunning white façade, provide architectural testament to the splendour and power that once radiated from here throughout the entire region.
Martina Franca enjoys a commanding position on a hilltop and invites you to explore its surrounding area, with the Adriatic Sea as your backdrop. It is close to a natural park, the ‘Parco delle Pianelle’, and at the gateway to the valley of Itria, which is home to a highly-renowned annual opera festival. For more than thirty years now, this hosts a 19th century Italian and French repertoire with major performances in the three-sided main courtyard of the Palazzo Ducale.
