Norba
In was born in the city centre of Conversano, an attractive small
town situated 219 metres above sea-level. Occupying a predominant
position, almost hanging between earth and sea, it represents
an enchanting stop for those who look for health air, temperate
climate, genuine products (handicraft icecream, dairy products,
almond cakes, cherries, olive ), religious and popular festivals
and , in particular, art and history. The name derives from a
small village, the so-called "Norba", located in today's
Conversano land, whose existence is dated back to the IX-VIII
centuries B.C. It boasts first important archaeological finds
in the period between the VIII and the VI centuries B.C. centuries
and shows deep traces of ellenistic culture. When it passed under
the dominion of Rome as a consequence of the conquest of whole
Puglia, it suffered Gothic invasions.
In the early Middle Ages the Norba land was transformed into a
sma
ll
fortified core: Cupersanum was conquered by the Normans (XI century).
Under their domination, it became an important economic strategic
centre. After the division of the dukedom of Benevento, it was
raised to the status of the county of the Altavilla family. Later,
during the Angevin age the county was dominated by such families,
as Brienne, Enghien, Lussemburgo, Sanseverino and Barbiano. In
the beginning of the XV century, because of the political crisis
outbreaking within the Angevin dominion, the county of Conversano
became the feud of the Caldora and Orsini del Balzo di Taranto
families. In the middle of the century, the feud was first under
the Angevin family's King of Naples, Alfonso I d'Aragona, then,
because of the marriage between Caterina Orsini del Balzo and
Giulio Antonio Acquaviva, it was under the rule of the Acquaviva
family until 1806, when Giuseppe Bonaparte ordered the abolition
of feudal system.
Within the Acquaviva family some counts distinguished themselves,
such as the above-mentioned Giulio Antonio, who was a brave man
at arms at the service of the Aragonese family and Giangirolamo
II Acquaviva, named "il Guercio delle Puglie" (XVII
cent.), characterized by an inconsistent behaviour. He was the
count who welcomed at his court Paolo Finoglio, the Neapolitan
painter, whose restored works representing "La Gerusalemme
Liberata" by Torquato Tasso are located in the town picture
gallery inside the rooms of the castle.
Today the town of Conversano presents a particularly suggestive
historic centre: the boundary walls of the imposing castle tower
above the vast territory together with mediterranean luxuriant
vegetation, "masserie" (farm houses), precious churchs
and monasteries and interesting rural chapels.