Molfetta

Molfetta is a port in Puglia in the province of Bari on the Adriatic coast, near to a 'dolino' (the so-called 'pulo di Molfetta') of 150m in diameter, created by the erosion of the water and the sediment of the limestone terrain. The first inhabitants settled here in prehistoric times but evidence of Melphicta (from whence comes the name Molfetta) is found in medieval times. It was then that the town experienced rapid economical development thanks to the port activities. Today's town is made up of a small medieval settlement on the promontary that juts out into the sea, and a more modern area. In the old nucleus, the old cathedral stands out (built between the 12th and 13th centuries an important site for the Romanic cult with a dome axis. The modern areas incorporates the Baroque cathedral and the sanctuary of Madonna dei Martiri built by the Normans and reconstructed in the 19th century.