[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

 

On Friday we decided we should visit some sites of Brindisi. After all Brindisi has always been an important port that links Italy to Greece and all points East. The harbour is impressive and due to the shape was easily defended. We went in search of some Roman Empire relics and according to our tourist information map, there was church not too far that also happen to be an archeological site. The Chiesa di San Giovanni al Sepolcro was built in the 11th Century and had an open part in the middle where you could see into an excavation that dated back even earlier; to the first century. The curator of the church was very kind and gave us an impromptu tour of the space and also gave us a map that had the locations of other interesting sites in Brindisi… why did we not get this map sooner!! Once we had explored the church and had a peek into the adjacent garden,we where off to take in some history.

To He’s delight all of these sites were free. We visited another church and then a Roman archaeological site under the city’s Teatro Verdi. The off to the Palazzo Granafei Nervegna, that housed the original column from the port that marked the end of the Appian Way. As mentioned above, Brindisi was well defended on the coastal side, but a large stone wall was built to defend the city from attacks over land. Unfortunately all that remains of the wall are the two gates (porta in Italian) and a fort. We decided the walk the path of the old wall and pass through the gates. We saw the fort from the outside as it was closed for the day but we were able to see both gates.

We then decided it was time for a gelato break. He had a beautiful combination of watermelon and blood orange and I tried the banana and strawberry combo. Both were very tasty but He’s was more refreshing. To work off the gelato we decided to take the ferry across the harbour and visit the Monumento al Marinaio d’Italia (Monument to fishermen). See He’s blog post for the adventure that was.It describes us meeting a very nice man who sold us his bus tickets so that we could take the ferry across the harbour.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”http://[2600:1f13:e3b:9100:ae18:b451:18d2:e990]/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/resize_IMG_7104.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

The amazing columns and mosaics at the Chiesa di San Giovanni al Sepolcro, Brindisi

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_gallery admin_label=”Gallery” gallery_ids=”1078,1079,1080,1081,1082,1083,1084,1085,1086,1087,1089,1090,1091,1092,1093,1094,1095,1097,1141,1142,1143,1145,1146,1147,1148,1102,1073,1072,1076,1074″ fullwidth=”off” orientation=”landscape” show_title_and_caption=”on” show_pagination=”on” background_layout=”light” auto=”off” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.9)” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]