Ruvo di Puglia is an attractive town with a timeless atmosphere and a Cathedral that is a prime example of Apulian Romanesque architecture. Unlike the other Italian villages we have visited on this trip, Ruvo di Puglia has streets that are level, fairly wide, and laid out in a grid pattern. But the streets are mostly residential and the only sustenance we can find are excellent ice creams followed by coffee and cake. However, the Cathedral is open, its beautiful doorway guarded by wonderfully carved griffins. There are other examples of fine carvings including two rose windows.

 

We then drive back to our accommodation before heading into Trani itself

Trani's Cathedral, with its tall attached tower, is attractively located near the marina - again there is lots of excellent carving on the exterior, and the interior is extremely high with three levels to explore

This quiet seaport gradually comes to life at about 5pm including a number of fishermen selling a wide variety of their wares, but there are no restaurants open yet. We enquire at one where the tables are laid but it is not due to open until 7pm. The proprietor offers us a salad but after discussion he states that we could have some fish. We choose salmon, and although this proves tasty, it is only just cooked and is overpriced - our poorest meal of the trip so far

May 23rd: our last day staying in Trani, and we use it to visit two towns to the south of our accommodation: Altamura and Gravina in Puglia

With the aid of a map that we pick up at the tourist office in Altamura, we find the Cathedral, and discover that it is being prepared for a wedding