Bitetto is a city of 12,000 people (2017) in the province of Bari (BA) in the Italian region of Apulia (Puglia), Italy. Its main attraction is the cathedral, one of the main examples of Apulian Romanesque architecture.

Understand

Climate

The climate of the area is typically Mediterranean, with cool winters, often lashed by cold Balkan winds, and hot summers, sometimes even torrid due to the action of hot Sirocco winds.

Get in

Bitetto is 17 km from the city of Bari.

By road

The city is connected to the neighbouring municipalities by Provincial Roads 67 (Bitetto-Bitritto), 87 (Bitetto-Palo del Colle), 90 (Bitetto-Sannicandro di Bari), and 184 (Bitetto-Cassano delle Murge). The municipality is also served by a ring road (SP 206), which allows traffic to be routed outside the town centre.

By train

Bitetto is served by the Bari-Taranto railway, managed by the State Railways, which allows connections, through daily trips, with the capitals Bari and Taranto and with other smaller municipalities, in particular Modugno, Grumo Appula, Acquaviva delle Fonti and Gioia del Colle.

Get around

The bus lines for connections with the neighbouring municipalities are managed by the STP Bari (Bitonto - Palo del Colle -Bitetto- Binetto - Grumo Appula - Sannicandro di Bari - Bitritto - Adelfia line) and by the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane (Bari - Modugno -Bitetto- line) Palo del Colle - Binetto - Grumo Appula - Toritto - Altamura - Gravina di Puglia - Irsina - Genzano di Lucania - Matera - Potenza).

See

• 1 Church of San Michele Arcangelo (Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo), Piazza del Popolo. built in 1335 (updated May 2024)

Do

• Two fairs are traditionally held in Bitetto: one on March 25th, the feast of the Annunziata , and the other on July 22nd, the day of the Magdalene.
• Every year, between 25 April and 1 May, a medieval re-enactment takes place in Bitetto, during which the Borgo Antico (old quarter) returns to the 15th century. A historical episode is recalled in which the Duke of Atri who had participated in the conspiracy of the barons against Ferdinand I was defeated,and took refuge in a convent. Here he met Fra' Giacomo who predicted the King's pardon for him, unlike the other conspirators who would have been beheaded. The Friar also predicted the birth of a son. Once both predictions were verified, the Duke returned to Bitetto with his family and the court to thank the Friar, building, as a sign of devotion, the straight road that connects the Franciscan Convent to the town (today via Beato Giacomo). A medieval market and historical parade are held.

Eat

Bittese cuisine includes various dishes typical of the Apulian tradition; in particular:

• ciallédde, stale bread soaked in water and served with tomato, oil and salt;
• folders, a Christmas dessert made up of puff pastry ribbons (prepared with flour, oil and white wine) wrapped to form a sort of rose, fried and soaked in vincotto;
• the scarcella, an Easter dessert consisting of a dove of sweetened and glazed bread, in the centre of which a hard-boiled egg is usually placed;
• chiacchiere, a typical carnival dessert.

Typical of the city are the percoche or percochi grapes, and in particular, the Oliva Tèrmite, a cultivar of table olive originating from the Bitetti area, where it has been cultivated at least since 1186.

Sleep

• Bed and breakfast Bari F.G., via palo 77, ☏ +39 0809924502. All comforts in rooms. 12 km from Bari center.