Troia Puglia

Troia, Puglia – Visitor’s Guide and Overview

Troia, Puglia is a tiny village in the hills of Foggia. It’s an off-the-beaten-path destination that’s worth a visit. Join us in a journey to learn everything you need to know about Troia, Puglia.

Northern Puglia is full of charming hill towns. Towns like Bovino and Troia are often missed by tourists. They are quiet hamlets where you can experience an authentic atmosphere.

Even if Troia is not well known, the town is oozing with the atmosphere. The center is full of tiny alleyways and ancient buildings.

Troia, Puglia Overview

Before we dive into the visitor’s guide to Troia let’s do a small overview of the village. We’ll take a look at the history behind Troia, Puglia and explore how it became the town it is today.

Where is Troia, Puglia?

Province of Foggia
Troia, Pugli is in the province of Foggia.

Troia is a town in the Foggia region of Puglia. It sits towards the northern parts of Puglia, close to the neighboring regions. The whole town is situated in the Daunia mountains sitting on a crest.

This location is highly unique as it creates a narrow but long layout for Troia. As there were no options to build either up the hillside or down the hillside the town decided to grow in a narrow line.

The History of Troia, Puglia

The original name of Troia was Aecae. There is a legend associated with the founding of the town and you know how we love legends here.

According to the folklore, Aecae was founded by non-other than Diomedes himself. Diomedes is a Greek hero mentioned in Homer’s Illiad. He is regarded as one of the best fighters in ancient Greece and is the person who destroyed Troy.

We are not sure how much of the legend is true, but one thing is certain. The town was founded as Aecea and it fell to Hannibal in the Carthage wars. Romans quickly recaptured the town.

Troia always had a nice location within Italy. It is located on the Appian Way which meant travelers and merchants coming through town.

The modern Troia was established as a fortress to defend against any invasions coming through the mountains. The town served as a very important strategic fort. As years passed and cities got bigger Troia couldn’t keep up with the expansion.

Today it’s a sleepy mountain town with an extremely friendly atmosphere and nice locals. Tourism is an active part of Troia but it sees fewer visitors than the beach locations in Puglia.

How to get to Troia, Puglia?

Getting to the village is difficult if you don’t rent a car. There are some buses leaving from Foggia but the schedule can be unreliable. There is no train station in the town. It used to have a train station but it was closed a few years ago.

You can visit Troia very easily when you rent a car. It’s a short drive from Foggia and all you have to do is follow SP115. It will take you straight into town and into the historic center of Troia, Puglia.

Troia, Puglia Visitor’s Guide

Now that we’ve covered the basics it’s time to jump into the visitor’s guide of Troia. Let’s take a look at all the things to see in the village.

1. Troia Cathedral

Cathedral of Troia
Tango7174, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It seems like every small Italian village has at least one impressive religious building. It’s the Troia Cathedral this time around and it is a striking sight.

Basilica Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta stands out from the surrounding buildings due to the white facade and decoration. You can tell it’s an important religious place even by looking at the cathedral.

You can take the small street around the side of the cathedral if you want a full walk around. We’ll tell you the main sight is the facade but some exploring never hurt anyone. The narrow street that goes around the cathedral is definitely a cute one.

When you head inside you will see the 3 naves and the 13 columns that separate them. These are not just random numbers they represent the Apostoles and Crist.

2. Chiesa di San Basilio Magno

Saint Basil Church
Basilica church of St. Basilio. Troia. Puglia. Italy.

The Church of San Basil is the oldest in town. The inhabitants of Troia originally founded it as a Greek-Orthodox Temple. After the Roman conquest, they used the base to expand and build the Church of San Basil to the form we see today.

It’s one of the simplest churches in Troia yet due to its medieval heritage it’s one of the most impressive. Just the sheer size of this church is stunning if you consider it was built before every other church in the town.

3. Museo Civico

The Troia Civic museum is for history lovers. You will find displays of archeological finds from the hills and fields near Troia.

It’s a small but manageable museum. There is a lot of extra information, though it’s mostly Italian so be prepared. We recommend this for those who are particularly interested in the history of the area. Others can safely skip the museum.

4. The Churches of Troia

We’ve already mentioned the two most important churches you should check out in Troia, Puglia. If your time allows do make an effort to seek out the other small churches scattered around town.

They come in all shapes and sizes. From big ones like the Cathedral to tiny ones that are built into the surrounding buildings. One such church is right in front of the Cathedral. We recommend that you go in there as well.

5. The narrow streets of Troia

Troia, Puglia - Street
Giuseppe Milo, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Don’t forget to enjoy the historic center of Troia. It’s compact but full of atmosphere. How compact is it? Well, the main street runs through the middle and there are some side streets, but it’s surrounded by the two major roads from each way.

It’s a very walkable town, especially in the center. The cobblestone streets are cute and the buildings are very old and atmospheric.

6. Grab an espresso

Or a cappuccino if it’s afternoon. Just know that Italians don’t consider cappuccino a good choice in the morning. Sit down in any of the town’s charming cafés and enjoy a warm drink. When you visit during the colder months you will especially appreciate the warmth.

Our favorite pick is Caffetteria Del Corso Di Marino Francesco. This small establishment is waiting for you next to the Cathedral with open arms. A good choice if you want to eat not just drink something. You can pick from different bakery items and even some ham and cheese plates.

7. Treat yourself to a great diner

There is just one more thing we recommend you do before you leave the town. Consider diner in Troia. As it is a very local town you will find the meals authentic. It’s always a pleasure to taste the foods the locals like.

Osteria fra due Terre is our favorite place to eat in Troia. It’s near the town hall in a cute old-fashioned building. It’s everything you would expect from an authentic restaurant in Puglia. Nothing too fancy but excellent food.

8. Troia festivals

We love to visit smaller Italian towns during festivals. As these places are not lost in tourism the festivals can feel extremely local and intimate. When you have the chance we recommend that you try to catch one of the festivities in Troia.

One of the best festivals in the village is in the first weeks of August. These weeks the locals dress into medieval suits and play music on the streets of Troia, Puglia.

How much time to spend in Troia, Puglia?

You might be wondering about the duration of your visit to this charming village. We recommend anything from a few hours up to half a day. You will have to try the restaurants and do some window shopping though if you want to spend a half-day in Troia.

It’s a great stop whenever you are doing a northern Puglia itinerary. There are multiple cute towns to explore and Troia is worth seeing.

You can also decide to sleep in Troia and use it as a base for exploration. It’s near major roads which means you’ll be able to travel in and out of town easily.

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