Bisceglie is a town in the province of Barletta Andria-Trani of about 54,000 inhabitants situated on the low coast of the Adriatic Sea.
There are two of the most reliable theories on the origin of its name: the first, derives the name Bisceglie from the Romanesque term Vigiliae, or watchmen, conferring it for the role of lookout carried out by the site on the Adriatic sea; instead the other, believes the name City vescègghie a transposition of the dialect, or viscile, a type of oak which is very present in the territory.
Bisceglie Today is an important agricultural center and has developed the manufacturing industry. Also important is the development of trade and tourism.
What to see
Among the major examples of religious architecture in the city, there is the Romanesque, built between 1073 and 1295, which treasures the relics of the patron saints of the city, such as S. Sergio S. Pantaleone and S. Bishop Mauro.
The Romanesque Church of S. Margherita, built in 1197, preserves the only example in Italy of the Tombs of the Falcons. Then there is the Church of St. Adoneo, the oldest of all, built back in 1074, and treasures within it a precious baptismal font in the Romanesque style.
Finally, the Church of St. Louis, built on the ruins of the Temple of St. Louis, where Louis I of Anjou was buried. In the area of Bisceglie there are several dolmens, such as The Dolmen Chianca, dating back to the Bronze Age, the Dolmen Frisari, the Dolmen of Gianos, located near the Temple of Giano, and the Dolmen Albarosa.
Of particular naturalistic importance is the Area-Ripalta Pantano, an area of about 680 hectares of natural interest since 1985, and the Cave of St. Cross, no less than 100 meters long, which contains many concretions, stalactites and findings, including the femur of a specimen of Homo Sapiens Neanderthalensis in 1955.