HK Independent Traveller Blog

  Giovinazzo is on a small peninsula stretching out into the sea. It is a charming medieval village by the Adriatic Sea with a fortified walled port, an imposing Romanesque Cathedral and countless beautiful old monumental churches and palazzo. It is a pleasant leisure to walk along the tiny streets and squares. Every few metres away, one will be astonished by the exquisite buildings. And there aren’t many people. At time of our visit, the crowds were only at restaurants, cafes dotted the places next to the sea. Be sure to make a visit before it gets very popular. We arrived from Molfetta by train and walked north towards the sea. The first monument in sight is large pink faced Chiesa Sant'Agostino at Via Marconi. It can be seen from everywhere in Giovinazzo . The enormous dome dominates everything. Arches support the structure and with a drum surrounded by windows and pairs of Ionic semi-columns. It ends with a "lantern" on which the cross stands out. On the way towar...

This day is for two beautiful seaside towns northwest of Bari, Molfetta and Giovinazzo. We picked Molfetta to start our day. Molfetta is a charming coastal town located in the Puglia region. It is situated along the Adriatic Sea, offers stunning views and a rich cultural heritage. With its ancient origins Molfetta provides a perfect blend of history, art, and seaside attractions.  The train ride from Bari to Molfetta took less than 20 minutes. Surrounding the train station are relatively newer residences. A statue of the national hero Giuseppe Garibaldi stands at Piazza Effrem to greet visitors. He holds a short sword in one hand. Umm, such a welcome?  The welcome sign below is more friendly and happy. In about 10 minutes, we got to the old town filled with historical palaces in whitewash colour. It is quiet, without shops and noises. Ashlar walls are often dotted with pots of flowers which add nostalgia to this charming area.    We walked and looked around to...