Moving towards the border between the high Salento and the Land of Bari we can make a stop in Fasano, a town surrounded by expanses of olive trees and not far from the Adriatic Sea. It is a city that conquers for its Mediterranean atmosphere and the beauty of its historic center, thanks also to the complicity of traditional cuisine and the quality of olive oil, among the best in Puglia.
The old town center of Fasano
Fasano is located in the province of Brindisi, just over 60 km from Brindisi, located in the center of a triangle at the top of which Brindisi itself and the cities of Bari and Taranto are located.
It is a lively city that meets the tastes of many visitors thanks to the enchanting beaches on the coastal road from Savelletri to Torre Canne, the hilly nature and the pleasant town to visit.
Already from the first steps on Corso Garibaldi, an elegant street, full of shops and palaces, among which Palazzo Mogavèro stands out, recognizable for its Baroque monumentality. From here you arrive in the large Piazza Ciaia, the historic heart of Fasano, as the symbol of the city in the center of the square suggests, which depicts a coat of arms with the wild white dove.
The Palazzo del Balì overlooks the square, today the town hall. It is a palace built in the second half of the sixteenth century, but between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries it was considerably enlarged to become the castle of the Balì of the Knights of Malta and the seat of the military garrison. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the castle was again modified as we see it today, with the imposing facade in the neoclassical style.
A trace of the past is the Arco del Balì or del Cavaliere, a large Baroque-style portal from which you accessed the castle.
Looking around, the Torrione delle Fogge does not go unnoticed, perfectly integrated among the modern houses overlooking the square. It is a circular architecture, a little squat, the only surviving tower of the walls that protected the old town of the town in medieval times. In fact, in the immediate vicinity of the Torrione there is a passage that leads into the alleys framed by the buildings painted with whitewash.
There are also many churches that deserve at least a visit such as the mother church of San Giovanni Battista or that of Sant'Antonio Abate and heading towards Piazza Mercato there are the beautiful Portici delle Teresiane, which were part of the convent annexed to the Church of Santa Maria del Rosario and today are a commercial gallery that houses bars, restaurants and pizzerias.
