The Sun caresses my skin while I am in the port of Trani. The ships are rocked in the turquoise sea. Fishermen put the tables with their fresh delivery. In front of me, the Basilica of San Nicolás rises, an imposing building made of clear limestone. I close my eyes and breathe deeply. In the air there is a smell of salt, fish and olive oil. I am in Trani, a city that captivates me immediately for its beauty and charm.
Pure charm: walk through the picturesque historic center of Trani and discover hidden corners.
Walk through the old town of Trani
The narrow streets of the Historic Center of Trani are a book of living history. Here you can breathe the past while the sun projects its warm rays on the old stones. I feel the Italian attitude towards life everywhere. My walk through Trani is like a trip over time, taking me from the Greek origins of the city to its medieval apogee.
Through the narrow streets of the old town, surrounded by clear limestone buildings, each step feels like a walk through the centuries. Claudio, our Gebeco Tourist Guide for Puglia, accompanies the tour of Trani. His stories of the past are fascinating: an exciting film with the history of Trani that develops before your inner eye.
The place has a long story full of events. The Greeks settled here in ancient times, later followed by the Romans. The city lived its peak in the Middle Ages under the Norman domain. Trade, culture and art flourished and the Basilica of San Nicolás became an important place of pilgrimage. The Normans left their mark on architecture: the basilica itself is an impressive example of this. Its simple elegance and their ornate details speak of an era in which Trani was a shopping center in the Mediterranean.
The architecture and charm of the Historic Center of Trani are charming.
Trani is one of the most beautiful port cities in Apulia.
Ciudad heart: The Historic Center of Trani is the perfect place to enjoy the atmosphere of Puglia.
Basilica of San Nicolás: The Queen of the Cathedrals of the Sea
The Basilica of San Nicolás is the symbol of Trani and one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Italy. The Church was built in the eleventh century and, after 100 years of construction, is a masterpiece of Apulia’s Romanesque architecture. Its location directly on the sea is unique. The clear limestone facade is richly decorated with sculptures and reliefs. The shocking architecture with an impressive rosette not only captivates architecture lovers, but also transmits a spiritual calm that can be felt as soon as the inner fresco is entered. The high vaults of the interior impress.
But what makes the church so special is what we learn from our Claudio guide in a kind of successful description: in the rivalry for San Nicolás between Bari and Trani, both cities stood out as important shopping centers for the East and the Crusades. While Bari flourished economically in 1087 thanks to the arrival of the bones of San Nicolás and the flows of pilgrims he attracted, Trani initially remained in the shadows. But Trani counteratacious when, on May 18, 1094, a Greek pilgrim, who also called Nicolás, arrived in Trani and collapsed in front of the Cathedral of San Maria Della Scala. It was canonized by Pope Urban II in 1097, which resulted in the construction of the magnificent cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino, today held as the “Queen of the Cathedrals of the Sea.”
Place of pilgrimage and monument: The Basilica of San Nicolás in Trani attracts believers around the world and is considered one of the most important churches in Apulia.
Basilica of San Nicolás: Sacred place next to the sea
The “Queen of the Cathedrals of the Sea” impresses with its high vaults inside.
The Basilica of San Nicolás can be seen from anywhere in Trani.
The port of Trani: the throbbing heart of the city
The port of Trani has always been the throbbing heart of the city. Even in antiquity it was an important shopping center and a destination for navigators around the world. With its wide curve, which reflects the blue sea, it offers a constant view of sailing and fishing boats. Colorful fishing boats and elegant yachts sake in turquoise water.
In the background the impressive city skyline stands, crowned by the Basilica of San Nicolás. Numerous restaurants and coffees along the Paseo del Puerto invite you to stay. Here you can enjoy the sun, contemplate the sea and taste the delicious cuisine of Apulia.
Unique photographic opportunity: the port of Trani
Colorful bustle on the sea: colorful fishing boats and elegant yachts characterize the image of the port of Trani.
Trani Culininario
In Trani, the taste of the sea is combined with the tradition of Puglia to create a culinary experience. The city offers a wide selection of culinary delicacies for all palates.
Fresh fish directly from the ship
For amateur chefs who want to cook in their holiday apartment, there is nothing more pleasant than buying fresh fish directly in the port. Every morning, locists and tourists go to the port fishermen stalls to buy freshly captured fish. Here everyone will find some taste.
Claudio is not only our Gebeco tour guide, but also a gourmand of Apulia’s kitchen. His advice: “Buy fresh octopus, so we call the squid or octopus here in Apulia. Cut the star -shaped tentacles from below and cut your head. This makes the thicker part of the tentacles thinner and easier to marinate and roast. Marinate the squid in olive oil and white wine or lemon juice. Add some sprigs of rosemary or thyme and let it stand covered for at least an hour. Heat the grill well and cook the squid for 5 or 6 minutes on each side. When the octopus is purple it will be ready. Be sure to stop before tentacles darkens or burn. This is the only way to keep tender and juicy squid. ”
Idilic fishing village: bustle color in the Trani fish market.
The Apulia Treasury: Fresh fish directly from the ship in the port of Trani.
Vacation kitchen: Kitchen in your holiday apartment with fresh market on the market.
Restaurants with Italian sea and style
Numerous restaurants and bars border the port of Trani and offer fantastic sea views. On Sundays the locals like to walk here, let themselves be carried away, enjoy the sun and the delicious aroma of fresh fish and seafood.
Whether you feel like a traditional fish dish, a delicious pizza or a plate of pasta, in trani you have the guarantee of finding the right restaurant for all tastes. Especially good: a good primitive rosate with a view to the beautiful Adriatic Sea and the lovely Italian language around you. I love it!
“Dolce Vita” in Apulia: Sun, Sea and Pure Italian style!
The best ice cream shop in the city.
Right in Piazza Pietro Tiepolo is ” The Bottega del Gelato ”, The best ice cream shop in the city. Hidden behind thick bars, it is easy to ignore, but it is worth visiting.
The homemade ice cream with the delicious flavors of Puglia is a real delight. Do not stop testing the varieties “pistacchio di bronte”, “mandorla” (almond ice cream) or “Di ricotta cream”. My absolute favorite, which is only available in Italy and not here in Germany: Fior Di Latte, a particularly delicious ice cream. You sit with your ice cream on the old wall of the port dock. From here you have an impressive view of the entire dock of the port and the Adriatic Sea and you can enjoy the bustle of the old town.
Enjoy the view of the port and the old town with the best ice cream in the city.
Focaccia, Ciabatta & Co.: In the Porto Trani, all bread lovers will be delighted.
In the Porto de Trani bakery, tourists and premises queue to have the delicious baked products in their hands. The focaccia of the bakery is known beyond the limits of the city for more than 70 years and is a real culminating point. In addition to the focaccia, the bakery also offers several types of bread, ciabatta, paninis and sweets. Perfect for a delicious breakfast or a picnic on the beach.
We carry a delicious focaccia with tomatoes, olives and rosemary for the rest of the trip and enjoy a small pranzo (snack) in the shadow of the olive trees. And for those who cannot stay in Trani at this time and would like to enjoy a piece of Italy on their own dish, I recommend my article ”How to make the perfect focus so easily” – a traditional recipe that chef Andrea Tarilio taught me during my trip to Puglia.
Trani Expert Council: Do not stop testing the focaccia of the Porto Panifice!
Disclosure : My research trip through Apulia was supported by Gebeco Gesellschaft Für International Begegnung und Cooperation MBH & Co. Kg – thank you so much! The content of this article, of course, is not affected and reflects my own opinion. I did not receive any remuneration for this article.
Tanja Neumann is a journalist based on Krefeld (Germany) “in the middle between Italy and Austria” as she defines, and writes about her passions in her blog, Vielweib on Tour, where she has achieved a vast number of followers and in which she recounts in detail her select journeys that join pleasure, culinary delights, cruises, walks through the city, luxury, luxury experience extraordinary, wellness, breaks, and even tours of road convertible.
This article was republished with authorization from the author.
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