Bovino’s Ducal Castle

A place where time stops, where you can appreciate the delicious food and amazing experiences in the Daunia Mountains (province of Foggia): this is Bovino.

Surrounded by bucolic landscapes and woods, Bovino is one of the most beautiful villages in the hinterland of Puglia.

Do you want to know more about this fairy-tale place? Scroll down and enjoy!

sunset on bovino daunia mountains puglia — ***_{Photo: Michele Grande}***

apulia tableland from bovino daunia mountains puglia — ***_{Photo: Michele Grande}***

Bovino: the city with 800 portals

Bovino

… paese che scherza col cielo,

o forse è una scala di qualche gigante,

bianca di calce e di pietre, che sale la cima di un colle.

…o forse una vecchia signora che sogna,

vestita di nebbia e di vento,

una danza sui tetti coperti di muschio,

sui sassi baciati dal tempo, che posa i suoi passi

accanto a portali di pietra.

…Bovino ha una torre e un castello,

e, dentro, c’è un pino antico e contorto

… o forse Bovino è il sogno di un pino che sogna un paese.

(Mario Bernardini)

Bovino

… a village joking with the sky,

or maybe it’s a ladder of some giant,

white of lime and stones, which rises to the top of a hill.

…or maybe an old lady dreaming,

clothed in fog and wind,

a dance on the roofs covered with moss,

on the rocks kissed by time, which puts its steps

next to stone portals.

…Bovino has a tower and a castle,

and, inside, there is an ancient and twisted pine

… or maybe Bovino is the dream of a pine tree that dreams of a village.

(Mario Bernardini)

the castele belltower in bovino daunia mountains puglia

narrow street in bovino daunia mountains puglia

The history of Bovino has ancient roots: the first human traces were found in the Neolithic Era.

The Ancient Village (Borgo Antico) is a mosaic of rock houses full of emblems and portals (more or less 800 in this area), officially elected by ANCI as one of the Best Villages in Italy.

Down the centuries, a lot of populations dominated this land: for example the Roman Cathedral, dedicated to ST. Mary Assunta, symbolizes Roman domination in this area.

church in bovino daunia mountains puglia

old bell in bovino daunia mountains puglia

The Ducal Castle

The Ducal Castle of Bovino was an ancient manor built by the Romans where a lot of personalities lived.

In the XII century, indeed, Manfredi, the son of Fredrick II of Swabia, stayed in the castle during his journey before having a battle.

The palace does have a polygonal plant that takes place around a large internal courtyard.

In 1575 began the feudal era of the “Guevara”, Lords of Navarre (real close to the “Borbone” Lords) and the castle was the house of them until 1961.

During the permanence of the lords of Navarre, this place became the meeting place of illustrious personalities (including Torquato Tasso, Papa Benedetto XIII, etc).

Actually in the Ducal Castle can be found a charming B&B, Residenza Ducale, within which are proposed magical experiences in the area.

castle of bovino daunia mountains puglia in winter — ***_{Photo: Michele Grande}***

castle of bovino daunia mountains puglia — ***_{Photo: Michele Grande}***

Diocesan Museum

In Guevara’s Private Chapel there is the Diocesan Museum, established in 1999 by the Archbishop, to preserve the artistic heritage of the Diocese of Bovino.

The pieces of art that can be found in these noble halls go from the twelfth to the end of the nineteenth century.

Among all those beautiful pieces, it’s impossible not to mention the silver reliquary where a miraculous thorn of Jesus’ crown is stored: a must-see!