Immerse Yourself in the Beauty of Ascoli Satriano

If you’re looking for a beautiful, traditional and fascinating town in Apulia, we’d like to introduce you to Ascoli Satriano – an absolutely awe-inspiring town and commune situated in the province of Foggia. Whether it’s for the landmarks and sights or the rich history, there’s a lot to love about this small part of southern Italy.

A visit here could certainly add something special to your trip, offering a little extra piece of charm and tradition that anyone will remember long after their holidays in Puglia are over. This is why it’s well worth taking a few minutes to read about some of the things that make this destination so attractive.

What are some of the most notable sites of Ascoli Satriano?  

There are quite a few things in this area that will take your standard holiday from good to great. You might want to explore the town or have your own little Puglian adventure here in Foggia – and if you do, make sure to consider visiting sites like:

The Museum Center of Ascoli Satriano

The archaeological museum complex in this town is spectacular, simply because of the outstanding collections that are housed here. There are a wide variety of things to see, like the Marbles of Ascoli Satriano – a set of marble artefacts from the 4^th century BCE. Even more fascinating is that they’re believed to have been taken from the tomb of a prince who had once ruled the region of Puglia.

There’s a whole lot more here too, like the Diocesan Museum, home to a variety of incredible paintings and sculptures from local artists. The highlight of which is certainly the crucifix, as it’s inlaid with ivory and pearl.

This area was once known as Asculum and was predominantly owned by the Dauni (an ancient tribe in the north of the region). A permanent exhibition called The Necessary Waste has a number of amazing grave artefacts from this time on display, giving a view into the life of luxury that the ancient Daunian aristocrats once had.

The fantastic churches

Whether you’re a religious person or not, we’re confident that you’ll be able to appreciate the beauty of some of the fantastic churches here in this town. There are actually several different ones that you could see – here are just a few that we’d suggest you check out during your visit:

• The Church of the Incoronata (dating back to the 15^th century)
• The Church of San Giovanni Battista
• The Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral (dating back to the 12^th century)
• The Church of St. John the Baptist (dating back to the 12^th century)
• The Church of San Rocco

Tavoliere delle Puglie

While this isn’t a site within the town (but rather a large plain in northern Apulia that the town is located in), it’s a large, beautiful area that is a perfect hiking destination for anyone who wants to get lost in nature. You could easily spend a few hours in Ascoli Satriano and then go out into the beautiful plains and just immerse yourself in the beauty of this incredible landscape.

It’s often worth planning a trek carefully, since it is sometimes subject to floods during the winter and drought in the summer. If you come at the right time of year though, you’ll find that it can be one of the best spots for hiking in Puglia.

The history of Ascoli Satriano

If you’re interested in finding out more about the rich and fascinating past of this small town, we’d be happy to give you a little insight.

Based on archaeological evidence and research (for example, similar dated earth works that are common here), we can deduce that the earliest known human life in Ascoli Satriano dates back to sometime around the 9^th century BC.

This town was the site of two battles of the early Roman Empire and later on, a military colony was established here by Sulla (a Roman general, 138 BC – 78 BC). As the Western Roman Empire began to collapse during the 4^th and 5^th centuries, the area was mostly abandoned and the woodlands began to overgrow.

In the 9^th century, the Saracens came in – and they stayed until the war against the Byzantines in 1040, before another battle just a year later which gave the Normans control. Around 400 years later, the inhabitants were forced to move when a devastating earthquake destroyed most of the town.

This is just a brief look into Ascoli Satriano’s past. When visiting, we’re certain that you’ll be able to feel the ancient atmosphere in the air as you walk through the streets and explore the historical beauty that the area has to offer.

If you want to make the most out of your time here, it might be worth going on a tour – and those who want the best tours around Puglia will be glad to hear that they’re in the right hands with our team.

Why come on a trip with Travel Puglia?

If you want the best Puglian tours 2021 has to offer, you may want to consider taking a look at some of the things that we have compiled for our trips. Regardless of what you’re after, we’ve got something for you – whether it’s one of the best Puglian wine tours out there or a chance to visit some of the greatest Puglia hiking sites. Let us take you on a journey unlike any other.