Gioia del Colle (Bari) “Il paesino delle Mozzarelle”

Gioia del Colle is an Italian town with a population of 28,100, located in the province of Bari in the Apulian region. The town lies on the Murge plateau at an altitude of 365 meters above sea level, halfway between the Adriatic Sea and the Ionic Sea. The landscape is rich in terms of extensive wooded areas, among which the Romanazzi Forest holds particular significance. This forest constitutes the largest part of the wooded area in the municipality of Gioia del Colle and extends from the archaeological site of Monte Sannace .

Normann-Swabian Castle

Gioia del Colle's Normann-Swabian Castle is the final result of three construction phases: the first one can be traced back to the Byzantinetimes, the second one to the Normann times and the last one to the Swabian times. Frederick II of Swabia built the structure around the year 1230. Traditionally, it featured a quadrangular courtyard, several halls, and rooms overlooking the courtyard, which was enclosed by four corner towers. Unfortunately, only two of these corner towers are still there today: the De' Rossi Tower and the Empress Tower. The National Archaeological Museum in Gioia del Colle is also very important. Pasolini opted for this castle in order for him to film some of the scenes of the film named: "Il Vangelo secondo Matteo".

 Sagra della mozzarella

The festival of the mozzarella (Sagra della Mozzarella) and of many other typical dishes in Gioia del Colle, a locality in the Bari area, is renowned for its dairy and wine products. The mozzarella , made exclusively from high-quality Italian cow’s milk, is among its finest creations. During the festival, visitors have the chance to taste mozzarella in all its varieties and forms These delicacies can be tasted at the various stands and tourists have the chance to purchase these typical local products. The aim of the event is to promote the dairy industry that carries the name of Gioia del Collewhich is appreciated and developed both on a national and an international levelThe participation of agri-food companies from other sectors, which complement the dairy industry,enriches the showcase of the area’s food and wine offerings, making it a highly appealing and appreciated event.