Foggia: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening

Foggia is located in Puglia, about 20 miles from the Adriatic coast. Like other large centers of Southern Italy, Foggia was also severely damaged during the Second World War, losing part of its oldest heritage: however the city has maintained a certain charm for tourists, also due to its proximity to some wonderful locality of the Gargano .
Very easy to reach from any part of Italy, Foggia soon got back on its feet by enhancing its cultural heritage , and through excursions and guided tours. Here is useful information for your visit to Foggia: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening.

What to see in Foggia

1 – Cathedral of Foggia
The construction of the Cathedral of Foggia, whose full name is ” Church of the Beata Maria Vergine Assunta in Cielo “, dates back to 1170, with Roman-Apulian characteristics. Following the famous earthquake of 1731, it was then rebuilt in the Baroque style. Known for its crypt , and for the discovery of the very rare panel representing the Virgin Kyriotissa, the Cathedrala boasts a stone bell tower with a spire crowning on the outside while, inside, a beautiful Latin cross with a bowl dome is exhibited.

• How to get there: the cathedral is located right in the center of the city, surrounded by several other monuments, and it is therefore recommended to reach it on foot but, in case, the structure is also reached by almost all ATAF buses – Get directions
• Hours: 8: 30-13: 00/17: 00-21: 00
• Ticket cost: Free

2 – Gli Ipogei
Photo by Nicola Signorile. The subsoil of the historic center of the city of Foggia is crossed by a long series of underground environments. These are hypogea and cellars , which by mixing eras and functions reach Frederick II and his famous Royal Palace , which is thought to have extended precisely in that area. The wells for the collection of grain and the construction techniques of the walls, found under Piazza Purgatorio, were in fact dated to the medieval period. The most important hypogeum is that of via San Domenico.

• How to get there: on foot in about 5 minutes from the center – Get directions
• Hours: the hypogea can be visited only by reservation, which can be done at one of the following numbers 0881756300 – 3203724578
• Ticket cost: the cost of the ticket varies according to the route chosen, for further information contact one of the two numbers listed above

3 – Bosco Incoronata Regional Natural Park
Established in 2006, the Park is about 12 kilometers from the city and is a protected area, home to numerous species of birds, but also mammals, fallow deer, wild boar and various reptiles. In addition to Bosco Incoronata , the area includes ” Valle del Cervaro “, and the Sanctuary of the Madonna dell’Incoronata , a well-known pilgrimage destination. In addition, it is also possible to visit the various sites of technical-scientific studies for the identification of rare floristic species.

• How to get there: the ATAF bus line has organized special trips, which connect the Park to the city. By car, the Park can be reached from the A16 motorway or from the state road 16 (SS16), in about 21 minutes, following the signs for the Sanctuary – Get directions
• Hours: always accessible
• Ticket cost: Free

4 – Palazzo Dogana
Photo by Pietro. The Palazzo della Dogana in Foggia has long hosted the Regia Dogana della Mena delle Pecore in Foggia: the nerve center of all southern Italy, for the exchange of goods and livestock. Today it is the seat of the Province of Foggia, and the rooms on the ground floor are used for exhibitions and since 2003, also as the seat of the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art. Destroyed by the earthquake of 1731, the Palace was initially reconstructed to be used as a Seminary but, the subsequent need to have a new Palazzo della Dogana, led to changes in the project and subsequent extensions, in which Luigi Vanvitelli took part. In 2013 the Palace was awarded by UNESCO the title of Monument and Messenger Site of a Culture of Peace.

• How to get there: easily reachable on foot from anywhere in the city – Get directions
• Hours: from Monday to Friday 9: 00-13: 30 / 15.30-19.30; Saturday 9: 00-13: 30; closed on Sunday
• Ticket cost: Free, except for access to the exhibitions

5 – Church of the Crosses
Photo by Giovy.it. The Church of the Crosses is a national monument. Behind the construction of the church there is one of the most significant legends of the city, which sees the Capuchin father Antonio da Olivadi, starting his work as a religious in order to give hope to the poor people of Foggia, bent by the drought. Then one day, after a sermon, he started a procession and miraculously it started to rain. Along the way, which was at the intersection of the two most important roads for transhumance, I wept seven wooden crosses. These were closed by the devotees a stone fence, and on each of them a small dome was built. Subsequently the chapels were reduced to five, to make room for the construction of the church, today the destination of hundreds of faithful:

• How to get there: on foot, reachable from the center in about 8 minutes – Get directions
• Hours: every day 8: 30-13: 00/16: 00-20: 00
• Ticket cost: Free

6 – The Villa Comunale Karol Wojtyla
Photo by Raimondo Perrina. The Karol Wojtyla urban park extends for about 1,000 meters in length and over 50 meters in width, making it the second largest municipal villa in Italy, after the Floridiana of Naples. At the time of its opening it is considered too simple by the municipal administration, which relies on the well-known gardener Felice Giordano, who designs the Boschetto, full of trees. In 1824 Oberty and De Tommaso were commissioned to design the perimeter fence and restore the park, already marked by neglect, making it monumental and elegant. In 1827 the works were completed and the result achieved: a majestic pronaos with 28 columns. The current appearance of the villa is the result of the reconstruction in 1950, following the damage suffered during the war.

• How to get there: by any means, given its location in the city center, near the railway station and the main arteries of the city. It is flanked on the entire north side by via Lorenzo Scillitani and on the opposite side by via Celestino Galliani: the main entrance opens onto piazza Cavour – Get directions
• Hours: 7:00 – 14:00 / 16:00 – 21:00
• Ticket cost: Free

7 – Porta Arpana
In some documents preserved in Rome, and dated 1500, the past conformation of Foggia is testified, completely surrounded by walls, now completely destroyed. These opened in five doors, one for each village, also lost, with the exception of Porta Arpana or Porta Reale. The first and largest of the city gates, this is located at the beginning of via Arpi and, at the time of Frederick II of Swabia, marked the entrance to the city. Following the changes undergone by the city over the years, this then passed to mark the entrance to the “Borgo dei Sellai”, which extended up to the current railway station.

• How to get there: the gate is about 10 minutes away on foot from the historic center, and close to other interesting attractions including the Hypogea: it is therefore recommended to reach it on foot – Get directions
• Hours: always accessible
• Ticket cost: Free

8 – Civic Museum and Municipal Art Gallery
The Civic Museum and Municipal Art Gallery, houses three sections arranged on various levels: on the ground floor the lapidary with the tomb of Medusa and other archaeological finds has been set up, on the upper floor there is the reconstruction of a house type on the model of those of the terraces and various display cases with jewels and ornaments while, on the second floor there are two galleries. The first exhibits a vast collection of archaeological finds from ancient Arpi while the second is dedicated to the collection of paintings by artists from Foggia and Naples.

• How to get there: the museum is located between the Hypogea, Palazzo Buongiorno and Porta Arpana, and therefore it is recommended to reach it on foot, so that you can also admire the other monuments – Get directions
• Hours: 9: 00-13: 00/16: 00-19: 00
• Ticket price: € 5.00 full, free up to 18 years and over 65s

9 – The Palazzo dell’Acquedotto
The Palazzo dell’Acquedotto was built in 1926 and is one of the symbols of Foggia. Seat of the Apulian aqueduct, to which it owes its name, the building has two entrances or rather, and consists of two parts: the first building with the first entrance faces via Scillitani, the entrance to the second building instead, from towards via Isonzo . The two buildings then join in a triangle, inside which there is a courtyard. Consisting of six floors, divided between families and offices, the building has numerous concrete decorations and two domes above the terrace.

• How to get there: on foot, given its particular position and size – Get directions
• Hours: always accessible
• Ticket cost: Free

10 – Piazza Cavour and the Sele fountain
Photo by Ettore Timi. The nineteenth-century Piazza Cavour is the point where the major streets of Foggia meet, and the seat of two important symbols of the city: the famous Villa Comunale, whose pronaos with 28 columns stands out majestically in the western part, and the Fontana del Sele , placed in memory of when the city was able to benefit from the water of the Sele. The historic fountain, built on a project by Eng. Cesare Brunetti, represents a five-pointed starfish and was to remain in the city only for the inauguration of the Aqueduct. After the event it should have been dismantled to make way for a monumental fountain in bronze and marble which, however, was no longer built.

• How to get there: by any means, given its location in the city center, near the train station and the main arteries of the city – Get directions
• Hours: always accessible
• Ticket cost: Free

Foggia itinerary in one day
Anyone who picks up a map of Foggia will notice that the city boasts a very high number of churches. This is because, since ancient times, it has been a stop for pilgrims headed to the Sanctuary of San Michele , on the Gargano, causing numerous taverns and shops to develop in the oldest part of the city. This particular conformation is still visible in the current historical center of Foggia, where it is worth even just “strolling”.
After having a hearty breakfast at the Atzori bar , you can move towards the first symbolic monument of Foggia, the Cathedral , where the famous Madonna of the Seven Veils is kept. At the end of the visit it is time to move towards the historianPalazzo della Dogana , declared a UNESCO monument, an ancient hub of southern trade.
During the journey that leads to the next stage of the visit, you will come across the characteristic Terra Arsa restaurant , where it is recommended to stop for lunch before continuing. Just a five-minute walk away is the Church of the Crosses , which owes its name to the crosses planted by some faithful, around which the church was later built: the original installations are still visible along the garden avenue. Another five-minute walk then leads to the famous Aqueduct Building, the particular structure – actually made up of two buildings that intersect – seat of the aqueduct and residence of some families. A walk in the huge municipal villa of Piazza Cavour will be the right opportunity to relax, admiring the latest beauties of the city, including the Sele fountain , located in the center of the square, in memory of the arrival of the aqueduct in Foggia.
In Via Maggiore Vincenzo della Rocca, one of the four streets that form the rays of the square, you will find Osteria number ten , where you can dine while savoring the typical flavors of the city

. One day itinerary in brief

1. Breakfast at Bar Atzori, Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi, 32 – Get directions
2. Historic Center – opening hours: always open – ticket price: free
3. Cathedral – opening hours: every day 8: 30-13: 00/17: 00-21: 00 – ticket price: free
4. Palazzo della Dogana – opening hours: from Monday to Friday from 9: 00-13: 30 / 15.30-19.30; Saturday 9: 00-13: 30; closed Sunday – ticket price: free
5. Lunch at Terra Arsa, Via Alessandro Manzoni, 144 – Get directions
6. Chiesa della Croci – every day 8: 30-13: 00/16: 00-20: 00 – ticket price: free
7. Aqueduct palace – opening hours: always accessible – ticket price: free
8. Villa Comunale – opening hours: 7:00 -14: 00 / 16:00 – 21:00 – ticket price: free
9. Fontana del Sele – opening hours: always accessible – ticket price: free
10. Dinner at Osteria number ten, Via Maggiore Vincenzo della Rocca, 10 – Get directions

Where to eat in Foggia

1. Piccola Osteria Km Zero : Cuisine of typical dishes at zero km
   Average price per person: € 15.00 – € 25.00
   Address and contacts: via Tenente Iorio, 13 (Get directions) / tel: 3400526216
2. Osteria number 10 : typical dishes, and the possibility of choosing a fixed price menu for lunch
   Average price per person: € 9.00 – € 18.00
   Address and contacts: via Vincenzo della Rocca, 7 (Get directions) / tel: 3201137655
3. Osteria del Grano Arso : Italian cuisine, fish and pizzeria
   Average price per person: € 10.00 – € 35.00
   Address and contacts: via Trento, 37 (Get directions) / tel: 0881772896
4. Terra Arsa : Italian cuisine and fish
   Average price per person: € 25.00 – € 35.00
   Address and contacts: Via Alessandro Manzoni, 144 Get directions / tel: 3400526216

What to do in the evening: nightlife areas and the best clubs
Foggia is a city that guarantees a good variety of night entertainment, suitable for both very young and old. In the historic center it is possible to find both a good concentration of bars and pubs, also open until late, while lovers of the dance floors will have to move slightly more out of the way. Except for the Replay Club, the historic club of the city, the discos or in any case the “clubs with very loud music” are located outside the city center, but still not far away.

• Replay Club : historic Foggia club open until late, specializing in drinks, shows and events
  Address: via trento 5 / D (Get directions) / Facebook page
• Wanted pub : another historic local in the city, and a pub in the classic sense of the term, with a large variety of beers and open until late
  Address: via Orientale, 20 (Get directions) / Facebook page
• Enoteca Uvrara : winery also specializing in drinks, with Italian cuisine
  Address: via Mastrolillo, 15 (Get directions) / Facebook page

Plan your stay in Foggia: info and useful tips

• How to get there: Foggia is located at the intersection of the Naples-Bari and Lecce-Bologna railway lines, therefore it can be reached by train from anywhere in Italy, the station is very easily located about 15 minutes walk from the city center. The nearest airport is Bari. From the airport, you can take the buses of the Pugliairbus line, which go to the Foggia railway station: the ticket price is € 11.00. By car from the A14 Bologna-Taranto, exit Foggia and from the A16 Napoli-Canosa motorway, exit Candela.
• How to get around : definitely on foot, given the high density of churches in the city, all located at a very short distance from each other. For those who have problems getting around on foot, Foggia has a very efficient bus line. The cost of the ticket is € 1.50, for a duration of 90 minutes (see map and timetables). The cost of the ticket for the suburban lines instead, starts from € 1.80 and is valid for two trips (see map and timetables)
• Where to park : most of the car parks in Foggia are paid, and are managed by ATAF: here is the page with all the rates. Also available is the H24 garage in via Emilio Perrone 13/15 (Get directions), which offers paid parking and connections to the center via private shuttles.
• Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 75.00 per room – see the offers
• What to see in the surroundings : Manfredoniais about 34 minutes by car from Foggia equal to 40km (Get directions) while, moving towards Monteleone di Puglia, 56km away, which can be covered in about 1 hour (Get directions), you can admire the famous murals bearers of ideals, drawn by the remembered population like the first to rebel against fascism. The Gargano Park is about 32 minutes by car from Foggia, equal to 29km (Get directions) a stretch of coast dominated by the homonymous mountain, which offers beautiful views and enchanting beaches. The park preserves historical and naturalistic treasures, and characteristic villages including: Vieste and its medieval village; Peschici the village surrounded by walls, among which the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria di Calena and Rodi Garganico stand out, the village formed by a dense network of narrow streets and houses overlooking the sea