Wonderful days those of this end of October that allow us to walk everywhere in search of new places to discover. After having illustrated the Villa Comunale of my city of Trani, today I speak of a another attraction to visit, the Monastery of Santa Maria di Colonna. Located in the North area, the Monastery is located on a small peninsula, surrounded by the Adriatic Sea, reachable by car via a single access route.
At the end of the road you will find a large square in front of a white stone structure, the Monastery and Church of Santa Maria di Colonna. Access to the Church is presented by a large pavement of recent construction and an additional step that allows you to cross the main bronze door after a few meters, depicting scenes from the life of the patron saint of the city, San Nicola. The church is built in Romanesque style, like the whole monastery, it has small dimensions but it is very welcoming and quite bare of all those severe classic decorations. The bare stone is certainly the most visible element but trusts a sense of protection and security to make it one of the most popular with young married couples.
The Monastery dates back to around the year 1000 AD and it was immediately the home of many Benedictine monks first and then Franciscans. Because of its position, surrounded practically by the sea, it has been the object of pirate attacks over the centuries: the most memorable was the one in which the pirates, in addition to robbing everything they found, mutilated a wooden statue of Christ, causing a spill of uncontrolled blood and for fear the crucifix was thrown into the sea. This event is remembered on May 3rd of each year with a solemn procession. Today the monastery is no longer inhabited by monks.
It is possible to visit a few days a year also the Cloister, composed of a verdant central garden well cared for by the attendants and a colonnade in the shadow of which the monks meditated, prayed and read texts in the past. The large square, currently asphalted, was the scene of two important concerts: Elton John and Jamirocquai and culinary events or special events are often used.
There is a pedestrian street that allows you to leave the Capo Colonna peninsula, walking along the seashore, allowing everyone the vision of the exceptional sea that in days like these calls many lovers to dive for the last swims of the year.