The best city hikes and walks in Riserva Naturale Regionale Orientata "Bosco Delle Pianelle"

The most beautiful and hidden Martina from the great flows

A little-known treasure in the heart of the Itria Valley, the Church of Sant'Antonio ai Cappuccini. The Franciscan foundation dates back to the 16th century, on a pre-existing Basilian site. The church is a small treasure trove of beauty and art: frescoes, decorations, and, above all, the inlaid altars, evidence of the exquisite craftsmanship of Apulian cabinetmaking, likely of distant Venetian origin, now almost entirely lost.

The Basilica of San Martino, the mother church of Martina Franca and a monument of peace

Made out of a former bell, maybe even a former bell of the Basilica di San Martino

Andrea Roggi was born on July 2nd 1962 in Tuscany. When he was 15 years old the artist began to paint and he gradually focused on sculpture. In 1991 he set up the art workshop La Scultura di Andrea Roggi. In the late 90s he became the initiator of the Art for Young movement: When I was young I had a dream, to speak to people all over the world. Because we are all just one being, connected by a ray of light, a ray of love and creativity. We must communicate this joy of life, its beauty, its simplicity and happiness. But how can one person coming from a small town communicate, not knowing foreign languages and without support? Only with Fantasy. My dream came true through Sculpture... This is Art for Young the world I dream of. Andrea Roggi

Andrea Roggi was born on July 2nd 1962 in Tuscany. When he was 15 years old the artist began to paint and he gradually focused on sculpture. In 1991 he set up the art workshop La Scultura di Andrea Roggi. In the late 90s he became the initiator of the Art for Young movement: When I was young I had a dream, to speak to people all over the world. Because we are all just one being, connected by a ray of light, a ray of love and creativity. We must communicate this joy of life, its beauty, its simplicity and happiness. But how can one person coming from a small town communicate, not knowing foreign languages and without support? Only with Fantasy. My dream came true through Sculpture... This is Art for Young the world I dream of. Andrea Roggi

The Porta di San Nicola overlooks the south-western side of the ancient city walls. The name of San Nicola is attributed to the ancient extra-moenia church of San Nicola del Pendino (vico I Mario Pagano), currently reduced to ruins and deconsecrated. Today it is identified as Porta di San Francesco due to its proximity to the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi built at the end of the 17th century. In reality this is considered the oldest gate in Martina Franca, in fact, in some historical documents it is defined as the Porta Maggiore, since it allowed access to the first settlement that developed in Martina in the Angevin period and which led, through via Mazzini, to the ancient Church of San Vito. This gate has also undergone several renovations over the centuries, the most visible of which was the construction of an upper floor. In 1753, a private citizen, Pietro Bruni, obtained permission from the University (local parliament) to demolish and rebuild the medieval gate with the possibility of building a room in the upper part at his own expense. This structural intervention transformed what was originally a defensive lodge into a fully-fledged civilian room. Inside the gate, in the upper corners, you can still admire the stone rings that served to hold the hinges of the entrance door and, in addition, votive shrines from the early twentieth century dedicated to the Madonna are positioned on the walls, clear evidence of the popular devotion of the time. The ancient fair of San Nicola used to take place in the space in front of this gate. It was the first fair established in Martina and made official in 1368 by Philip II of Anjou. It took place on May 15th and lasted eight days, becoming the point of reference for merchants and buyers in the area. A few meters from the gate stands the tower of the same name, Torre di San Nicola, 12 and a half meters high and 8 meters in diameter. It preserves all its architectural components intact (sloping wall, torus, shaft and corbels), even though it has now become a civilian residence.

Nestled in the heart of the Itria Valley, halfway between Martina and Locorotondo, the current Church of Sant’Antonio dei Cappuccini marks the history of this territory. In fact, the Church and Convent of the Capuchins were built in the 16th century on a previous settlement of the Basilian monks who officiated according to the Byzantine rite and depended on the Monastery of San Nicola di Casole near Otranto, founded in 1099.