Binetto
Binetto: the commune on the Puglian hill
Welcome to Binetto, a commune with just over two thousand inhabitants in the metropolitan city of Bari, located on the first hills of the Murge. It borders Bitetto, Grumo Appula, Palo del Colle, and Sannicandro di Bari. A fraction of the municipal territory is the Matine zone, in the agricultural land of Bitonto.
A millenary history
Binetto possesses a millenary history that can be intuited from the ancient archaeological artifacts from the 4th-5th century BC. The hamlet of Vinetum was founded in the Early Middle Ages and suffered devastations by Saracens. In the 11th century, Umfredo, a feudal lord related to Tancredi d'Altavilla, endowed it with fortifications. In 1181, the feudal lord was Roberto De Benetto, who paid 260 ounces of gold to the crown. In 1268, the fiefdom passed to Roberto da Bari, then to the Nicastro and Moncello families, later donated to Cristoforo D'Angelo in 1507. It was sold to Baldassarre Caracciolo who passed it on to his heirs and then to the Carafa family until 1650 when it was sold to the De Angelis family. The last feudal lords were the d'Amely, from the end of the 18th century until 1806, when feudalism was abolished throughout the Kingdom of Naples. In 1799, the tree of liberty was erected under the influence of the Neapolitan Republic (1799), while in 1820, a carboneria was based there.
In 1927, the commune of Binetto was suppressed and aggregated to that of Grumo Appula, regaining administrative autonomy only in 1946.
The monuments to discover
The Church of the Assumption (Binetto) was built between 1198 and 1203 and is an example of Puglian Romanesque architecture. The gabled facade, equipped with three portals with rounded arches and a simple oculus corresponding to the central portal, houses some stone statues. The interior, with three apsidal naves, is marked by stone block pillars that support the cross-vault of the central nave. A 16th-century baptismal font, a holy water basin, and some works of art from the 14th to the 17th centuries are preserved inside.
The Castle of Binetto, built by local feudal lords in the Middle Ages to defend against Saracen invasions, has been destroyed and burned several times. Little remains on the hill called "la torretta."
Finally, the Levante Circuit is also located in the municipal territory and hosts many motorcycle races.
The society of Binetto
The commune has a population of about 2,133 inhabitants, of which 1.85% are foreigners. In recent years, the population has grown, but the Commune has managed to maintain a strong and rooted local identity, as evidenced by the presence of many traditional activities.
Binetto, with its millenary history and its monuments, represents an important cultural and tourist heritage for Puglia. Come and visit it and discover all the wonders it has to offer!
