On the last hills of the southern Murgia between white trulli, casedde and ancient farms stands Martina Franca, a real pearl of the Itria Valley. Immersed in this splendid landscape, Martina Franca preserves a wonderful historic center, embellished with fine examples of Apulian Baroque art.
Its ancient heart is a maze of narrow streets, alleys and squares where Baroque art is the absolute protagonist, together with the typical whitewashed houses called "case a pignon", ie pointed, due to the characteristic sloping roofs. The ancient nucleus is accessed through the doors of the old fortified walls that introduce us to a scenario of elegant wrought iron balconies, moldings, votive shrines, noble palaces and ancient churches.
We could start our journey from Piazza XX Settembre, which is reached through the elegant Porta di Santo Stefano, once the ancient market square commonly called Ù Stradon. Not far away, in Piazza Roma, stands the majestic Palazzo Ducale which houses the town hall and the Museo delle Pianelle. Palazzo Stabile, with its beautiful portal and typical Baroque windows, houses the Museum of the Basilica of San Martino. The Basilica, a symbol of the Rococo of Martina, has a facade of great value adorned with a high relief bearing St. Martin in the act of cutting the cloak to give a part of it to the half-naked traveler.
Do not miss a walk in the historic center, following the layout of the ancient city walls that still retain the towers of the walls and the access gates to the ancient village. After this long walk, it's time for an aperitif which in Martina Franca is made only with local products of the highest quality, such as the renowned capocollo, a Slow Food presidium, which goes well with friselle, focaccia, taralli, caciocavallo and mozzarella , all accompanied by a good Martina Franca doc, dry white and delicate on the palate, or by a Primitivo di Manduria doc or docg, wines that contain the intense but delicate aromas of the wonderful territory of the Itria Valley.
