Ruvo di Puglia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Comune di Ruvo di Puglia
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Puglia
Province	Bari
Mayor

Elevation	240 m
Area	221 km²
Population
- Total (as of December 31, 2004)	25,635
- Density	116/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	41°07′N, 16°29′E
Gentilic	Ruvesi
Dialing code	080
Postal code	70037
Frazioni	Calendano
Patron	Saint Blaise
- Day	February 3
Location of Ruvo di Puglia in Italy

Ruvo di Puglia is a town and comune in the province of Bari, Puglia, Italy that is essentially devoted to agriculture, wine and olive growing. It is part of the Murge karst landscape.

[edit] History

The most ancient archaeological findings from the area date to the 9th century BC. In the 3rd century BC it commerced with the Greater Greece, Etruria and Greece. Under the Roman Empire it was first a military stronghold and later a municipum; then it was ruled by the Byzantines, the Saracens and the Normans. Later it was part of the county of Conversano.

After the Aragonese and French dominations it was a fief of the Carafa family, until the abolition of feudalism in 1806.

[edit] Main sights

The Cathedral is one of the most famous examples of Apulian Romanesque architecture. The façade has three portals and numerous decorations, depicting Christian symbols as well as griffins and other fantastic figures. There are two rose windows. The interior has a nave and two aisles ending with a transept. Among the numerous works of art, a wooden statue and the reliquiary of St. Blaise, a fresco portraying the Madonna and Child with St. Sebastian, a panel of the Virgin of Constantinople and a noteworthy wooden cross. Under the church are the remains of the palaeo-christian church and Roman tombs.
Palazzo Jatta (19th century)
Church of the Madonna di Calendano, in the ominous frazione.