Canosa di Puglia

Cathedral of San Sabino - Leoman3000 - CC BY-SA 3.0

Canosa di Puglia was founded around the 7th century BC possibly by the Homeric hero Diomedes, who called it Canusium. Probably of Greek origin, in 88 BC it became a Roman municipium, known for its wools. Canosa is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in Italy. Unfortunately, the flourishing town was destroyed after the fall of the Roman Empire. In the centuries that followed the town came under Lombard rule and suffered from Saracen raids that destroyed the city in the 11th century before Norman Hauteville Prince Bohemud helped the town recover and prosper during the 11th – 12th centuries. Following the Normans, it fell into a decline for several centuries under the rule of Orsini del Balzo, the Grimaldis of Monaco, and the Affaitati and Capece Minutolo families. There have been many archeological digs in Canosa since the 19th century. Canosa's 5th century BC Hypogea of Lagastra and 2nd century (Trajan's) Roman Arch are two popular visitor's sites, as well as the elaborate Saracenic tomb of Prince Boemondo, son of Robert the Guiscard, who died in 1111. The tomb's inscription reads "Under this stone lies the magnanimous Boemondo whose glory resounds throughout the world. Read what is written here and then pray that he may soar to heaven and there remain." Canosa's castle, now in ruins, was originally built by the Longobards, and renovated several times over the centuries. In the early 1700s it was purchased by Capece Minutolo; in 1956, when it was in total ruin with only its towers intact, the town took possession. Canosa is known for its DOC Rosso Canosa wine and its "grano arso" (burned wheat), which they use to prepare their breads, focaccia and orecchiette.

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