Helpful information for tourists about Brindisi in Italy - geographical position, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.
Brindisi is one of the largest cities in the Italian region of Puglia, the capital of the province of the same name. The city is located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Historically, it has played an important role in the economic and cultural life region due to its location and convenient port. And today Brindisi is the main port that trades with Greece and the countries of the Middle East. In addition, agriculture, chemical and energy industries are developed here.
Brindisi is located on the shores of a natural harbor, deeply protruding into the Adriatic coast of Puglia. In the waters of this harbor is the tiny archipelago of Pedanya, now closed to the public, as it is used for military purposes. And the territory of the city itself occupies the fertile plain of Brindisi, lying to the northeast of the Salento plain and about 40 km from the Val d'Itria valley. Near Brindisi is the natural marine reserve of Torre Guaceto, which is under the protection of WWF. And just 45 km from the city begins the Ionian Sea.
There are several versions of the origin of Brindisi. According to one of them, the founder of the city was the legendary Greek hero Diomedes. And on Cape Punta, the remains of a Bronze Age settlement - the 16th century BC were found. Before the Romans arrived in 267 BC, Brindisi was prosperous Greek colony. Its Latin name Brundisium comes from the Greek Brentezion - "deer's head" (meaning the shape of the harbor on the banks of which the city stands). After the Punic Wars, Brindisi became the main Roman center of maritime trade and military base. At that time, about a hundred thousand people lived in it! The Trajan and Appian roads connected the city with Rome. The latter ended at the very shore of the sea, where two graceful columns stood - to this day, alas, only one, almost 19 meters high, has survived. Brindisi was later conquered by the Ostrogoths, then by the Byzantines, and in the 7th century by the Lombards. They destroyed the city, but already in the 9th century a Saracen settlement was founded here.
In 1070, the Normans appeared in Brindisi, and the city became subject to Taranto and the Duchy of Apulia. During the last Crusades, the city experienced an unprecedented prosperity - a cathedral and a castle with an important gun arsenal were built here. It was in Brindisi that the Norman king Roger III got married, and Emperor Frederick II set off from here on the Sixth Crusade in 1277.
For a while, Brindisi, like other Apulian ports, was under the rule of the Venetian Republic, but was later conquered by the Spaniards. In 1348 and 1456, the city was seriously affected by the plague and earthquakes. In the 18th century it came under the rule of the Austrians, then the Bourbons, and finally became part of a united Italy. From September 1943 to February 1944, Brindisi was the temporary capital of Italy. Today it is one of the most interesting tourist cities in Puglia, which has preserved many monuments of history and culture from different periods.
Castello Zwevo, also known as Castello Grande, was built by Frederick II. It has a trapezoidal shape with massive square towers. It was here during the Second World War that the residence of the Italian king Victor Emmanuel III was located. No less interesting is the Catalan-Aragonese castle, known as Forte a Mare - Sea Fort. It was erected by order of King Ferdinand I of Naples in 1491 on the island of Sant'Andrea. The castle is divided into two parts: The Red Castle, named after the color brick walls, and the more modern Fort.
Cathedral Brindisi, built in the 11th-12th centuries, is made in the Romanesque style. Its current building is the result of an 18th-century renovation, as the original cathedral was destroyed in an earthquake in 1743. Of the other religious buildings of the city, it is worth noting the church of Santa Maria del Casale of the late 13th century in the Gothic-Roman style, the church of San Benedetto, built in the 11th century as part of a Benedictine convent, and the churches of Santa Maria degli Angeli, San Giovanni al Sepolcro and Santissima Trinita.
We sailed 20 hours before it.
Brindisi is now seaport with a population of about 80 thousand, and at the time ancient rome more than 100 thousand people lived in it. It was here that the Appian Way ended, connecting Rome and Brundisium, which at that time was the Roman window to Greece.
We disembarked at 13:00, and at 17:30 we had to be on board the ship. From the port we were brought by bus to Piazza Vittorio Emmanuel, they gave us maps of the city and told us until what time the buses from this square would leave for the port. We had about three and a half hours at our disposal.
Piazza Dionisia, from which our acquaintance with Brindisi began:
Studying before the cruise what you can see in this city, we noted the following sights of Brindisi: Swabian and Aragonese castles, Roman columns, palaces of Granafei-Nervegna and Montenegro, the cathedral, the Church of San Benedetto, the Church of Our Lady of Casale, the Tancredi fountain, a monument to the Italian sailor.
Unfortunately, some of them were far from the center. For example, the Aragonese castle occupies a separate island, and we admired it enough from all angles when our liner was approaching Brindisi.
Tourist trains run around the city. A city sightseeing tour costs 15 euros and lasts an hour. The steam locomotive goes round the contour Old city Brindisi (as it was within the fortifications), travels across the bay past the Tancredi fountain, past the fishing village to the monument to the sailor, and on the way back passes the church of Santa Maria de Casale. I wanted to see this church, I liked it from the photographs, but we still preferred to spend the time allotted to us in Brindisi exploring the old city.
First we went along the embankment. On the other side of the bay, a grandiose monument to the Italian sailor, 53 meters high, erected in 1933, was visible.
monument to italian sailor
We soon found ourselves at the foot of a wide staircase leading up to a solitary column. This ancient Roman column is the symbol of the city. At first there were two columns, then one of them was given to the neighboring city of Lecce, where it is now. All that was left of her was a tail.
Roman columns
During the 2nd World War, the column was dismantled and restored relatively recently, in the 90s of the 20th century. Moreover, its capital was replaced with a copy, and the original is in the museum - the Palazzo Grafanei Nervegna.
The column is visible from afar. And it used to be a guide for sailors. According to one version, it was built for this. According to another, the Romans erected these columns in order to mark the end of the Appian Way. And they also say that the Venetians, in the likeness of the columns in Brindisi, installed their famous columns with a lion and St. George.
Next to the column, there is a free museum dedicated to the columns. A circular staircase rises around the layout of the column, and by going around the column in a spiral, you can examine in detail the drawings that covered it.
Along the narrow street of Montenegro, steeply climbing up, we reached the church of St. Teresa, representative and high.
In front of her, on the elongated St. Teresa Square, there is an expressive monument to the victims of the First World War.
The old city is built of light stone. It is easy to navigate here, the map is clear, the historical center is compact. The Tourist Office is located on the promenade (vialle Regina Margherita).
Lots of decor elements similar to those we saw in Sicily. Similar balconies were found in
From Santa Teresa we went to the cathedral square of Brindisi - Piazza Duomo. The area is beautiful. The main building on it is the cathedral, built in honor of John the Baptist. The cathedral, built in the 12th century, was destroyed by an earthquake in the 18th, and now we have a restored 18th century cathedral.
View of the Duomo from Tarantini Street
To the right of the cathedral, the attention is drawn to the Portico of the Templars, behind which is the entrance to Archaeological Museum.
Portico of the Templars
Museum courtyard
At the corner of Piazza Duomo, a fragment of a 14th-century building, the so-called. Loggia Balsamo.
Opposite the loggia Balsamo stands the building of the Seminary. The facade is decorated with 8 sculptures representing various sciences.
One of the strongest impressions from Brindisi was ancient church St. John at the Sepulcher (Sepolcro), built in the 11th century. The antiquity of the church is obvious, and it fascinates.
The church is low, round in plan. The entrance to it is guarded by lions that have worn out from time to time.
After visiting the church, we went to the Swabian castle. It turned out that military sailors are now located in the castle, and tourists, of course, are not allowed into the “military zone”. After standing at a high fence with barbed wire and photographing a warship, we went to the city center.
Along the way, we admired the wonderful streets of the old city with indispensable drying clothes. Ah, this Italian spontaneity!
Along Via Marconi (I think the Russian translation is Popov Street) we reached the Church of St. Benedict (San Benedetto). Above the entrance to the church is a wonderful stone carving from the 11th century.
Church of San Benedetto
Carving over the entrance: the battle with dragons
Inside the church:
And this is already a stone carving on the Church of Our Lady of the Angels:
The city center, as almost always in Italy, looks solid, as if it were not a small town, but some kind of capital. It has everything you need for the cultural and economic life of modern man. In addition to the old ones, there are quite modern buildings. But there is no vanity, which is inherent in big cities.
Balconies and windows:
We went to the city museum of the Palazzo Granafei-Nervegna for 2 e., where, among other things, we admired the original capital of the city column. Okay, don't say anything.
Palazzo Granafei Nervegna
The hall in which a genuine capital from a Roman column is exhibited
In front of the palace of Granafei-Nervegna are the ruins of a medieval basilica.
And right in front of the palace rises the ultra-modern building of the Verdi Opera House.
The provincial capital, with about 90,000 inhabitants, Brindisi- a beautiful and attractive city for tourists southern Italy located in extreme point"heel", c.
One of the three largest cities of the Salenti peninsula, Brindisi is a city in which the true atmosphere of southern Italy soars in the air, where everything seems different than in the popular centers of tourism in the country: a different way of life, a different language, even the sea and that other, deeper and more open. Brindisi, at times, seems even more like Greece than Italy - in a word, a real Mediterranean climate reigns here.
Evening Brindisi. Photo flickr.com
It is always full of visitors, the main reason for arriving in the city is the ferry crossing to Greece or Albania. However, those who come to Brindisi only in so far as they leave the city without proper attention, lose a lot. After all, Brindisi offers visitors many interesting monuments.
Brindisi has always been famous for its port, "Gateway to the East". The city retains important testimonies that are echoes of historical events of a huge scale. In short, the city is brimming with attractions. From the Roman era, limestone baths from the imperial era have been preserved here, as well as majestic columns on a hill overlooking the sea, which may have once served as a lighthouse. Vivid evidence of the medieval period is the Romanesque church of St. Benedict, built in 1090; Church of St. John and the Holy Sepulcher of the Knights Templar; the Cathedral, with the original twelfth-century mosaic floor that "saw" the marriage of Frederick II; the Norman fountain of Tancredi; Portico of the Templars; Swabian castle and much more.
Port of Brindisi. Photo flickr.com
In addition to monuments, the surroundings of Brindisi will present panoramas to the eye of the visitor. extraordinary beauty. This applies, for example, to types nature reserve Torre Guaceto, attractive local scenery among olive groves and vineyards, enchanting beaches, Alberobello with its trulli nearby... Not to mention the many festivals and cultural events of all kinds, combined with delicious local cuisine!
In general, welcome to the charming, bright, colorful, unusual and always different Brindisi!
Where to stay in Brindisi
On a ferryboat
Numerous ferries from the port cities of Italy and Europe arrive at the port of Brindisi.
Brief history of Brindisi
Inhabited in the prehistoric period by peoples of Crete-Mycenaean origin and by the Illyrians, who built the first fortified walls of the city, Brindisi became an important Latin colony in 244 BC. and the Roman Municipality in 89 BC.
In the seventh century, the Longobards settled here in order to better defend themselves against pirates, as a result of which Brindisi had to endure numerous skirmishes and plunder by the Saracens.
The resources of Brindisi were revived thanks to the coming to power of the Normans (about a thousand years ago), who built numerous churches and fortified castles here. The city's port became an important base for the crusades, and Brindisi itself became a densely populated and developed coastal city.
Behind the Normans, the Swabians contributed to the development, in particular, King Frederick II, who was famous as a great builder. Frederick built an "earthen" castle in Brindisi, at the end of the Appian Way.
The modernization of the port of Brindisi continued under the rule of the Angevins, who made Brindisi the main center for expansion to the East and the conquest of Sicily.
Around 1450, however, Brindisi fell into a state of decline. The ruling prince of Taranto, Giovanni Antonio del Balzo Orsini, ordered to surround the city with moats to protect the city from Saracen raids, but the stagnant water caused a malaria epidemic, which, along with the continuing night attacks of pirates, caused people to flee the city.
In the seventeenth century, the city began to revive, thanks to the investments of the Bourbons, and the port of Brindisi was reopened for the transit of large merchant ships.
The city's heyday came in 1870 with the so-called "Suitcase of India", a line of trains and ships that linked the city's port and the Suez Canal with London, Bombay and Calcutta.
The economy of Brindisi finally revived at the end of the 19th century - numerous wineries and oil mills opened here, which gave the city many jobs.
What to see in Brindisi
Brindisi is so rich in sights that describing each of them is an incredibly difficult and time-consuming task. Therefore, the portal "Italy in Russian" will try to focus only on the most important monuments of the city, the most worthy of your attention.
The ramparts and ramparts of Brindisi
The historic center of Brindisi is still partly surrounded by the Aragonese walls, which were erected by the Spanish rulers in the middle of the 15th century, and then changed and strengthened by King Charles V, who added bastions (strategic towers) to the structure.
Of these, the best preserved Bastion of San Giacomo, which was recently restored. Today it is used as an exhibition space. Also well preserved are the Bastions of Port Mesagne, Porta Lecce, di Levante and Torrione Inferno.
Bastion of San Giacomo. Photo flickr.com
Swabian castle
Also called "Castello di terra" ("earthen" castle) to distinguish it from Aragonese (called "sea" castle), the Swabian castle was built by order of Federico II in 1227. The structure was oriented to protect the inhabitants of Brindisi, who in those days they "mourned" the beneficial period of the rule of the Normans and disliked the Swabians.
In the original, the castle had a square shape with 4 towers at the corners - on the one hand, the castle was protected by the sea, on the other, by a deep moat. Then the castle was improved and strengthened by Ferdinand of Aragon. After the overthrow of the Spaniards, the structure turned into a meeting room under Gioachino Murata in 1813. In the same way, the castle was used by the Bourbons and Savoys, until the 20th century, until the castle passed into the possession of the Navy of the Italian Republic. During the Second World War, it was located military base Italy.
Swabian castle. Photo flickr.com
Aragonese Castle (Alfonsino Castle)
The castle is located on the islet of Sant'Andrea, opposite the entrance to the Pigonati Brindisi canal. The reason for the construction of this castle was the constant danger of an attack on Brindisi by the Ottoman Empire. The tower, which became the basis for the construction of the castle, was erected by Ferdinand of Aragon in 1481 on a rock opposite the port.
After only 4 years of service of the tower, the son of Ferdinando, Alfonso Count of Calabria, decided to thoroughly strengthen the walls of the city, transforming the observation tower into a castle, which was called Aragonese or "sea".
The work lasted about 46 years and ended with the construction of a dam, partially closing the canal, round observation tower"San Felipe" (port side) and a triangular observation tower (sea side).
Alfonsino Castle. Photo flickr.com
Roman columns
Symbol of the city of Brindisi, these two columns are located in the square at the end of the descent of the Salita Column. It is claimed that the columns marked the end of the Appian Way, however, in fact, these columns are the remains of an ancient monumental square from the Roman era. For centuries, these columns served as a guide for ships arriving at the port.
Of the two columns - identical in size in the original - dating back to the 1-2 c. BC, only one has retained its original appearance. The height of the columns is about 19 meters. The columns were completed by a beautiful capital depicting the gods Jupiter, Neptune, Juno and Triton. Currently, the capital is kept in the Palazzo Corte d'Assise, on Duomo Street. The second column was destroyed in 1528, its remains were donated to the city - it was from them that the monument to Sant'Oronzo was made.
Roman column. Photo flickr.com
Palazzo and mansions
Walking around the city, you can admire the various historical buildings that are part of the history of Brindisi, such as the Palazzo Dionisi, built in the Venetian style, the old International Hotel, built at the end of the 19th century, which flourished during the founding of the Suitcase India", or an old mansion built by the Templars, which is now called the "House of the Tourist" and is used for cultural events.
Palazzo Montenegro, built in the sixteenth century, is the most beautiful Baroque building in Brindisi.
As for the Renaissance, its most prominent representative is the Palazzo Granafei Nervegna, built in 1565.
Historic center of Brindisi. Photo flickr.com
Churches of Brindisi
Cathedral of Brindisi
In 1089, Pope Urbano II consecrated the Piazza Duomo, where between 1132 and 1140, on the orders of Ruggiero II, King of the Normans and Sicily, Calabria and Apulia, the Cathedral of Brindisi was built. In 1225, the wedding of King Federico II and Yolande of Jerusalem took place here. In 1743, the Duomo was destroyed by an earthquake. Its reconstruction was entrusted to the architect Mauro Manieri. From the old cathedral, only the foundation, the left nave, four capitals and fragments of a mosaic of the 12th century remained.
The facade of the cathedral has undergone many changes. The last time, in 1957, it was decorated with statues of saints by the sculptor Alessandro Fiordegiglio. The cathedral chapel was built between 1780 and 1793; in November 1941 the building was bombed and was also reconstructed in 1957.
Cathedral of Brindisi. Photo flickr.com
Cathedral (complex) of San Benedetto
Located in the city center, along Via Marconi, the complex of St. Benedict is formed from a church whose foundation dates back to 1089, a convent of the Benedictine nuns and their convent. The building is an example of Romanesque art, with domes supported by ribbed vaults.
The monastery, built by the Normans, was modified in the second half of the sixteenth century and later in the eighteenth century.
The original appearance of the church was completely different from the present, however, some of the most beautiful elements ancient architecture are still visible in the design (for example, the portal of the XI century). Next to the church is the Diocesan Museum, where you can see some interesting statues, including the fifteenth century Madonna della Neve.
Church of San Benedetto. Facade decoration. Photo flickr.com
Church of Santa Maria del Casale
The elegant church of Santa Maria del Casale is located on the street of the same name, near the airport, and is one of the most famous monuments Brindisi. Built between 1300 and 1310. Filippo of Anjou, Prince of Taranto, it shows the transition from Romanesque to Gothic, which is characterized by the alternation in the outer walls, in harmonious geometric compositions, sandstone blocks and gray-golden stone.
The interior has a Latin cross and a single nave decorated with a series of magnificent fourteenth-century frescoes by Rinaldo of Taranto.
In this church, in 1310, under the presidency of Pope Clement V, a court was held that sentenced the Order of the Knights Templar, abolished in 1312, to be disbanded.
Church of Santa Maria del Casale. Photo flickr.com
Fountain of Tancredi
Built in 1192 to celebrate the wedding of King Roger and Princess Irene of Constantinople, the Tancredi Fountain - also known as the Great Fountain - is located outside historical center Brindisi, on Via Provinciale San Vito. The fountain was made on the remains of a pre-existing fountain from Roman times.
The fountain was famous for its water with healing properties - its water was used by local doctors to treat patients from the city and its environs.
The monument has undergone significant numerous restorations, especially in 1192 and 1549. In 1828 the fountain was enlarged, and the coat of arms of Ferrante Loffredo and the coat of arms of Charles V were added to the monument.
Fountain of Tancredi. Photo panoramio.com
Monument to the Italian sailor
Located on Duca degli Abruzzi Boulevard, the monument was erected as a memorial to the sailors who were victims of the war. The monument was inaugurated on November 4, 1933 in the presence of King Vittorio Emanuele III.
Made in the shape of a rudder, the monument has a height of 53 meters and is interesting for tourists because everyone has the opportunity to climb the top observation deck from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the harbor and the city. Inside the memorial there are several rooms where a collection of historical objects is collected, such as the stern of the battleship Benedetto Brin, which sank in 1915 in the port of Brindisi. A marble statue of the Madonna was placed on top of the monument in 1954.
Monument to the Italian sailor. Photo flickr.com
What to try in Brindisi
Brindisi's ancient and delicious cuisine is based on simple ingredients: vegetables, pasta and, of course, seafood.
Traditionally, a feast in Brindisi begins with delicious and fresh seafood, followed by appetizers of fresh or pickled vegetables - dried tomatoes, eggplant and grilled peppers, artichokes, capers and olives.
Typical cuisine of Brindisi. Photo flickr.com
The main dish of Brindisi is "Orecchiette" - fresh handmade pasta. A typical sauce for such pasta is fried perch with clams, or alternatively meat sauce with tomatoes and artichokes.
The most typical dish "on the second" is fish in various versions. You can taste grilled perch dishes, stuffed squid and cuttlefish, fish soup and the famous "Pignata" octopus, fried shrimps, mussels and squid.
Lunch is accompanied by excellent homemade bread, which is sometimes replaced by "puddica", a very soft focaccia. All this to the accompaniment of a pretty good local wine.
Events in Brindisi
Procession "Il Cavallo Parato"
When:
During the Corpus Christi celebration (June)
The procession starts from Piazza Duomo, always scheduled to start at 18:00
Description:
This is the oldest and most important ceremony that Brindisi preserves. The archbishop leads the procession through the central streets of the city in an open stretcher mounted on a white horse.
The origins of this tradition date back to 1264, when the first procession was held to celebrate the arrival of King Louis IX in Brindisi.
Sea Procession of the Holy Protectors
When:
First Saturday in September
The procession takes place at sea in the inner harbor, beginning at 19:00
Description:
The holiday is dedicated to the holy defenders of the city, Saint Theodoro and Saint Lawrence of Brindisi.
Starting from the Aragonese castle, the statues and relics of the saints are transported in a solemn procession across the sea by boat. The statues accompany many fishermen and worshipers on ships that come with the procession to the inner harbor, to the central docks, where the procession accompanies the saints to the cathedral.
These days, the city hosts a traditional fair, and the celebrations end with a grand pyrotechnic show.
Pyrotechnic show in Brindisi. Photo flickr.com
The port city of Brindisi in Italy is located in the southeastern region of Puglia, right on the heel of the Italian "boot". This is a lively and original town, with a rich history and vibrant traditions. It is actively developed as tourist centre and resort, offering its guests excellent infrastructure and all conditions for a good rest.
Business card
History and modernity
According to the ancient Greeks, Brindisi in Italy was founded by Odysseus' companion, Diomedes. Be that as it may, the city has always played an important role in the life of the country, being its major sea harbor in the southeast. In the times of the ancient Romans, many trade routes led here (the Appian Way ended just here) and trade with the entire Eastern Mediterranean took place from here.
In the Middle Ages, many crusaders went to the Holy Land from the port of Brindisi. And after the unification of Italy, the city received the status of a naval base.
Today, Brindisi continues to be an important link in maritime trade and transport communication. From here you can take a ferry to Greece - this route is very popular among tourists. In addition, the city is a center of winemaking and industry.
What to see, where to visit
Modern Brindisi keeps many monuments of history and architecture. On Cathedral Square of the city you can see the majestic Cathedral, which was founded in the 9th century. In 1743, it was badly damaged by an earthquake, so it was almost completely rebuilt, retaining the original layout and Romanesque style.
Not far from the cathedral is another unique building - Roman columns, which served as a kind of beacon for sailors. The oldest building on the map of Brindisi is the Tancred Fountain, built in 1193 in honor of the marriage of the son of the king of Sicily and the daughter of the Byzantine ruler.
There are castles and fortresses here: Svevsky castle (XIII century), Aragonese castle with a fortress wall (XV century). Among the religious buildings, one can note the graceful Church of Our Lady, where ancient icons and artifacts are kept, the Baroque Church of St. Teresa and the grandiose Church of St. Benedict.
Tourists can visit the ancient Slave Quarter, view the ruins of an ancient Roman city, see sculptures and monuments, look into the F. Ribezzo Archaeological Museum. A bunch of interesting places can be found in suburban areas. In a word, the sightseeing tour of Brindisi can be very, very rich.
Entertainment and active recreation
The inhabitants of Brindisi are very fond of noisy celebrations and festivities. One of the most interesting national holidays- “The procession of the decorated horse”, which takes place on the 60th day after Easter, during which the bishop rides through the streets of the city on a white horse, accompanied by knights in armor. And in early September, the "Festival of the Sea" is held here, dedicated to the patrons of the city - Lawrence of Brindisia and Theodore of Amasea.
Also, tourists will find rich shopping (sales occur at the end of winter and the beginning of autumn), diving and surfing lessons at local schools, yacht rental, horseback riding and a lot of other entertainment.
Local cuisine and wines
IN local restaurants they serve traditional Apulian cuisine - simple, but no less tasty. These include a wide selection of fish dishes, Italian paella, rice baked with potatoes and seafood (tajedda), deep-fried dough balls with various fillings (pettul), etc.
Brindisi from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Brindisi.
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One of the oldest port cities of the Apennine Peninsula, sunny Brindisi is located almost at the very end of the “heel” of the Italian “boot”, in picturesque Puglia. During the Roman Empire, the legendary Appian Way ended here, along which travelers and pilgrims, legionnaires, crusaders and traveling salesmen arrived at the port to depart on ships to different corners mediterranean sea. Brindisi has not changed its character even today, combining the features of a port, resort and historic city: lively and, at times, noisy, active and lazy at the same time, with a mass of ancient sights and no less modern entertainment, among which great beaches, restaurants and yacht clubs.
How to get to Brindisi
Brindisi Salento airport accepts domestic flights from Rome, Naples and Milan with Alitalia and EasyJet. In the summer, charters from Europe also arrive (air Berlin, TUIfly, Air One and Ryanair), and the number of domestic flights increases. From the cities of Russia to Brindisi, alas, on direct flight if you don’t get there, you will need a transfer, usually in Rome or Milan.
Arriving in Brindisi by bus from other cities in Italy is not difficult: the strongest connection is established with settlements Apulia - Bari and Lecce, but there are also direct bus routes from the capital and major cities. The bus from Bari takes about 2 hours, the journey will cost about 10 EUR, Lecce is very close: half an hour away and a loss for the wallet of 7.5 EUR. Prices on the page are for November 2018.
Beaches
The beaches of Brindisi are located north of the city, along the Via Materdomini highway, and offer vacationers fine golden sand and azure waters with a gradual increase in depth. There are also rocky areas. Nearest wild beach is located right at the end of the airport runway, so here you can not only relax, but also watch the planes coming in for landing. Further there are several hotels, the beaches of which look to the north. There are no rocky areas here, but sea disturbances are possible, since the beaches are not protected by harbors.
The charm of Brindisi
Cuisine and restaurants
Brindisi cuisine is simple, healthy and delicious. Apulian "peasantry" is combined with seafood, so vegetables, root vegetables and herbs are generously used in dishes, which serve as an excellent side dish for a variety of fish and seafood. Local characteristic snack - donuts "pettole", which are sweet and savory, stuffed with cod or anchovies with broccoli or cauliflower. It is also worth trying "pattani" made from rice, potatoes and mussels, as well as tasting cheeses (mainly sheep's): burrata, ricotta, pecorino or mozzarella.
On a hot Apulian afternoon, the inhabitants of Brindisi refresh themselves with almond milk (it is considered a traditional product of this region of Italy) and slightly intoxicating limoncello, and in peaceful evenings they sip red and rose wines with pleasure: Ostuni, Aleatico di Puglia, Brindisi Rosso, Rosato Brindisi and others.
Attractions and attractions in Brindisi
The first, albeit a very small attraction, with which you should start your acquaintance with Brindisi, is the 18-meter white marble column, which marks the end of the Appian Way. It is located at the very top of the promenade stairs descending to the ancient port, from where Roman ships once set sail. At first there were two columns, but in 1666 the inhabitants of Brindisi gave one to Lecce as a token of gratitude that the patron saint of the city, Saint Orontius, had saved the Brindisians from the plague.
Having descended the stairs, it makes sense to continue walking along the wide promenade along the sea, admiring the Mussolini fountain and not forgetting to pay attention to the monument to Italian sailors on the opposite shore of the bay - a giant stylized keel of a ship. It was erected in 1933, also by decree of the Duce.
The architectural dominants of Brindisi are two castles rising on a low hill above the city. The first, Castello Grande (or Castello Zvevo), was built in the 13th century, was not used for a long time, then managed to visit a prison and the base of the Italian fleet. The Aragonese castle of Forte a Mare dates back to the end of the 15th century and is interesting because it is divided into two parts - the so-called Red Palace and the fortified fort.
The main temple of Brindisi is a majestic Romanesque cathedral from the 11th and 12th centuries. At the end of the 18th century, it was destroyed by an earthquake, later the duomo was restored in the same style, but little of the original structure survived - only fragments of the floor mosaic. Away - Portico of the Crusaders 12-13 centuries - the only remnant of the church of the same name. The church of San Benedetto, also in the Romanesque style, is worth seeing. Once there was a Benedictine abbey, from which only a temple with a massive bell tower, decorated with a tier of arched windows, survived.
The magnificent Archaeological Museum of Ribezzo presents the richest collection of ancient artifacts found in the vicinity of Brindisi: Roman statues and busts, terracotta figurines of the 7th century and more than 3,000 bronze sculptures.
Do not be too lazy to leave Brindisi to visit the church of Santa Maria del Casale, which is 4 km from the city, on the way to the airport. In addition to its solid age (the church was built at the turn of the 13th-14th centuries), it will surprise you with a mixture of three architectural styles- Romanesque, Gothic and Byzantine. On the facade, you should pay attention to the eloquent image of the torments of the Last Judgment above the entrance by Rinaldo di Taranto, and inside - to the well-preserved Byzantine frescoes.
Brindisi Hotels
Brindisi has a good selection of hotels, mostly beach threes and fours. They are located on the first line and have their own beaches, equipped with everything necessary for a "sunny" holiday. There are also city hotels, as a rule, these are old two-three-story mansions with no more than a dozen rooms, as well as numerous hostels, boarding houses and guest houses working on the bed and breakfast system.
