Canosa di Puglia to Andria – 23rd June
Distance: 24.6 km – Elevation +290 m -260 m
Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 30 degrees
I slept well! The alarm was set for 5.30 am – a long day ahead. I was really happy to have started early. It was good walking with 13 kilometres completed by 9.15 am. It was a Sunday morning and I met some early morning runners, all running downhill as I walked uphill!
I am still on the plains of the Tavoliere delle Puglie with long straight roads and tracks running between vast vineyards and olive groves. There were more ups and downs today, not so flat as the past few days, and from the top of the hills, the views stretched for miles before me.
The hot sun started around 10 am and soon cooling down rest stops were needed and I was thankful for the shade provided by the ancient olive trees. I began to understand the purpose of the cone shaped stone buildings located in the olive groves – unique to this part of Italy they are storehouses or shelters, they are called Furnieddhu.
I arrived in Andria at 1.30 pm just in time for a siesta!
Due to the early start I had skipped breakfast and with just a sandwich at lunchtime, I was famished so I needed a good meal. I asked the B&B for recommendations for a local restaurant and they booked a table for me at “Mama”, it was an excellent choice! I chose a crispy aubergine cannuolo and ricotta, followed by calamarata, monkfish and clams and finally pork shank and baked potato. All enjoyed with local red wine – Rosso Barletta.
As I stepped out of the restaurant to make my way back to my B&B, the town was alive with people promenading through the streets on a balmy Sunday night.
