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Bisceglie lies on the Adriatic with a fascinating coastline and a rich historical and architectural heritage.
The ancient walls of the Aragonese age surround the historic center, made of paved alleys and narrow streets, guarded by the Swabian castle, with three towers: here stand out..
Outside the ancient city walls, Bisceglie makes a fine display of churches, convents, palaces, villas and farmhouses, while in the countryside are preserved in excellent condition the testimonies of a rich past, such as the Frisari, Chianca and Albarosa dolmens, the findancient noble palaces, such as Palazzo Tupputi, with its elegant rustication, the Abbey of Sant'Adoeno, the Church of Santa Margherita and the splendid Romanesque Cathedral of San Pietro Apostolo, from the Norman era, the heart of the old city.s prehistoric of the Grotta di Santa Croce, the traces of the Via Traiana.
Among the most beautiful stretches of coast in the area, Bisceglie offers a charming coast, characterized by wide beaches and coves such as Cala Pantano, a wetland with a small natural inlet, or the Caves of Ripalta.
Quite tasteful are the famous "sighs", traditional desserts prepared by hand in all the ovens of the city.
The dolmen is an imposing presidential megalithic monument dating back to the Bronze Age and the name Chianca derives from the local dialectal term chianghe, i.e. stone slab.
The construction was discovered by archaeologists Francesco Samarelli and Angelo Mosso on August 6, 1909, in the locality of "La Chianca" in the territory of Bisceglie, very close to a long and deep crevasse called "Lama di Santa Croce" full of ancient inhabited caves.
When the dolmen was discovered, the local farmers had already removed everything before the excavations, although some traces of the piles of stones and dirt that covered the construction were evident in the eyes of archaeologists.
In the cell were found animal bones, fragments of small vases and some stone knives dating back to 1200 - 1000 years BC, six skeletons of adults and children arranged in a disordered way, and two skeletons in a crouched position. In the dromos some blackish dishes, a bronze pendant and a jug were found. The finds were acquired by the archaeological museum of Bari, where they are currently preserved.
On May 19, 2011, UNESCO recognized the Chianca di Bisceglie dolmen as a "Heritage witness of a culture of peace for humanity".
