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Gioia del Colle (often shortened to just Gioia) is an Italian town in Apulia.

Geographical background
Gioia del Colle is an Italian town of 27,680 inahbitants in the metropolitan city of Bari. Gioia is located on the plateau which separates the Murge of north-west from those of south-east and is at 360 metres above the sea level. It stands halfway between the cities of Bari and Taranto and their seas: the Adriatic sea and the Ionian sea. This is one of the reasons why the town has always been a very important strategic point for economic, commercial and cultural exchanges throughout history.

It is bordered on the north-west by Acquaviva delle Fonti, on the north by Sammichele di Bari, on the north-east by Turi, on the east by Putignano and Noci, on the south-east by Mottola, on the south by Castellaneta, on the south-west by Laterza, on the west by Santeramo in Colle. Its rural landscape is characterised by 16th and 17th century farms, large planes, cave residences (such as the very famous "trullo") and large stretches of woodland. Bosco Romanazzi and Serra Capace form the most visible forest area of the town stretching from the archaeological area of Monte Sannace to the provincial road that leads to Noci.

Gioia is home to the Italian Air Force's 36º Stormo, based in the military airport "Antonio Ramirez" of the town.

When you should visit
Gioia del Colle has a mediterranean climate, although with continental characteristics due to its altitude and distance from the sea. In winter, the temperature ranges between -2 and +12 °C, while in summer it ranges between +18 and +35 °C with a very high percentage of moisture. The annual rainfall averages 600mm. Snowfalls are not rare, as it snows approximately once a year, especially when cold air coming from the Balkans reaches the area.

Historical background
Gioia's name comes from Joha, a shorter version of the surname Joannakis, a Byzantin family who lived here in the middle ages. As for the origins of the place name, there are many opinions and even legends about it. One of the most famous legends tells the story of a travelling noble lady who lost some of her jewels, including a very beautiful and precious necklace. The place where the necklace was found was called "Gioia del Colle".

The territory of Gioia del Colle has been inhabited by different populations throughout history, all of which have left traces of their presence in the area. The present town of Gioia del Colle stands near a Byzantine castle. The first urban settlement of Gioia del Colle emerged, in fact, during the Byzantine age, a period in which the most beautiful architectural structures of the town were built, such as the five arches and the Chiesa Madre. During this period other minor architectural and sculptural works were built and scattered all around the historic centre of the town, like the ornate oculus and the decorative door knockers.

Gioia's history is linked to the myths of Frederick II of Swabia and his lover Bianca Lancia, parents of Manfred of Sicily

Economical background
From an economic point of view, Gioia del Colle is one of the most productive and flourishing towns of the area. Thanks to its dairy, wine and olive oil production, Gioia is very well-known not only at the national level, but at the international level, too. Thanks to its dairy products like the mozzarella, giuncata, burrata and wines like the Primitivo, Gioia has in fact established itself on both Italian and global markets.

By plane

 * Bari-Palese airport, located 51,7 km from Gioia.
 * Brindisi-Casale airport, located 87 km from Gioia

From the airport, take the state road SS16 towards Taranto and then switch to the state road SS100. Finally, take the exit for Gioia del Colle.

By car
In order to get to Gioia del Colle by car, you can take the Adriatic motorway A14 towards Milano - Brescia - Venezia.


 * Gioia del Colle exit, 1,65 km away from the town centre
 * Acquaviva delle Fonti exit, 11,66 km away from the town centre

By train
The train station of Gioia del Colle is operated by RFI (Italian Railroads Network) and is 0,51 km away from the town centre.

Gioia del Colle is connected to all the major cities in Italy; from the station, you can use bus and shuttle services to reach your destination.

By bus
There are many bus lines you can use to get to Gioia del Colle:

Gioia has also bus connections to the Hospital "F. Miulli", situated in Acquaviva delle Fonti.
 * Sita Sud
 * Flixbus
 * Mastrorocco Donato
 * Marino Bus

Get around
The historic centre of Gioia del Colle is characterised by stone streets that all converge to the top of the hill, at Piazza dei Martiri, where the Norman-Swabian Castle and the monument to the martyrs stand. Its historic centre is bounded by the main street of the town, that takes different names according to the side: Via Daniele Manini on the north-east, Via Cavour on the north-west and on the west, Corso Garibaldi on the south, and Via Gioberti/Piazza XX settembre on the east. This area is also characterized by 5 arches of Byzantin origin that in the past acted as entrances to the courts. These latters precede the various historical monuments such as the Castle, the Mother Church and the Church of St. Rocco. The most important squares of Gioia del Colle are:



Public transportation
The town bus stops are:


 * Via Federico II di Svevia
 * Via S. Pio da Pietralcina
 * Via Paolo Cassano
 * Via Benagiano

See

 * Castello di gioia del colle, esterno, cortile 05.jpgGioia del colle,chiesa matrice di santa maria maggiore, 04.jpg

Telephony
The area code of Gioia del Colle is 080.

Go next
Once you're done visiting and exploring Gioia and its surroundings in all of its beauty, consider visiting also:


 * Bari, the capital of Apulia and the second largest city in Southern Italy. It overlooks the Adriatic sea.
 * Taranto, the second largest city of Apulia and one of the most important cities of the Mediterranean during the Greek period. It overlooks the Ionian sea.
 * Trani, a beautiful city overlooking the Adriatic sea, to the west of Bari.
 * Alberobello, the town known as the capital of the very famous Apulian Trullo.
 * Matera, a city situated in Basilicata designated as the European Capital of Culture in 2019, known for its Sassi.
 * Monopoli, one of the most beautiful sea places of the region, located to the east of Bari.
 * Polignano a Mare, known as "the Pearl of the Adriatic". One of the most beautiful towns of Apulia.