The city of Val enzano lies on the Adriatic coast, about 10 km Southeast of Bari, the first town of the Murgia of Bari. The town developed in the year 1000 around a Norman tower, which stood guard over the old Minucia road, along which could be found the powerful Benedictine monastery of Ognissanti di Cuti. The town retained its fortifications until the eighteenth century. Between the 70s and 90s, it underwent strong urban expansion and its population grew from 6,000, in 1971, to 17,164, in 2001, establishing it as a residential city. The presence of the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in the experimental field of the Faculty of Agriculture, the Technopolis, the Laser Centre, the Carso Consortium and the Institute of Oceanography make this city a centre of knowledge and service for the metropolitan area of Bari. Its artistic and historical heritage is rich and significant. The church of the abbey of Ognissanti di Cuti, exemplary of Apulian-Romanesque architecture, is a gem of undisputed value. In fact, its architectural solutions make it unique even on an international level. The town’s picturesque historical centre is typical of all small agricultural town centres, and contains the Prince‘s Palace, the Romanesque church of San Rocco, the neoclassical church of the Padreterno and the Cistercian church of Santa Maria di Loreto. The baroque church of Santa Maria di San Luca, of the fathers of the Franciscan Reform, with its altars of carved wood laminated with gold, and lovely paintings in the typical Apulian style, is definitely worthy of note. It also has an imposing bell tower, that is 45 meters high, and provides a beautiful feature that characterises the entire area. A number of religious and commercial events provide a provincial feel. Besides the imposing and impressive Good Friday procession, with the 47 groups of statues, this town also celebrates the feast day of its patron saint, San Rocco, with its beautiful illuminations, the old ”Nicolaiana” fair of Ognissanti, which was founded by Frederick II in the Benedictine Abbey of Ognissanti and dedicated to Saint Nicholas. The fair now spreads along a 4 km route within the town, and can count on the participation of over 800 commercial operators representing each and every product sector. The frittua, a potato dough focaccia with strictly local olive oil and fresh tomatoes, is a typical product of the local food traditions.
Tourist Office
Largo Marconi, n° 58
T.+39 0804607238- 4607299
cultura@comune.valenzano.ba.it, pubblicheistruzione@comune.valenzano.ba.it
Town Police
080-4607247
