First of all, I would like to introduce this city. Then, I would like to share my Erasmus experience.
Foggia is a commune in the southern region of Apulia in Italy; this city has a population of 154,000 and has historically been known as the Granary of Italy. This area of the Apulia has been inhabited since the Neolithic period and one of the first recognized colonies was the Greek Argos Hippium. During subsequent years the surrounding marshland was drained to create fertile land that was ripe for farming etc.
During the Middle Ages, Foggia became part of the Roman Empire and Frederick II invested in the city by building various palaces and churches. Throughout this period, the economy of Foggia rose and fell as different rulers changed taxes and laws. In recent history, Foggia has served as an important hub between northern and southern Italy.
In terms of tourism, Foggia is not a typical destination that many would visit however it has a stunning amount of sites and some truly beautiful architecture such as the Duomo and the Chiesa delle Croci. Furthermore, Foggia’s proximity to the eastern coast of Italy means that from here you can explore parks such as Gargano, and the gorgeous Tremiti Islands.
Cattedrale di Foggia
Located in the Piazza Francesco de Sanctis, the Cathedral of Foggia is the main religious building of the city and stands proudly against the relative low-rise surroundings.
Originally constructed in the 1100s, the cathedral was restored in the 1700s after an earthquake damaged much of its front façade.
Featuring a beautiful Baroque style, the front of the cathedral has some fantastic decoration and intricate stonework.
Inside, the cathedral is richly decorated and its windows allow in a great deal of light that cascades down onto the old wooden seats.
Furthermore, there is an ornate organ and much colourful religious paintings.
Piazza Umberto Giordano
As one of the main squares in Foggia, the Piazza Umberto Giordano is a great place to relax and enjoy the fine Italian weather.
This square is surrounded by fantastic shopping opportunities and contains a lot of boutique shops, cafes and restaurants for your pleasure.
Furthermore, the square itself has a central pedestrianized area with some beautiful trees and seats where you can simply kick back, relax and watch the world go by.
Alternatively, if you want a spot of sight-seeing, the Church of Gesu e Maria sits proudly on the square with its ornate Romanesque façade.
Palazzo Dogana
Located in the heart of the city centre, the Dogana Palace stands as one of Foggia’s landmarks and has been an important structure in the city’s history for hundreds of years.
This fine building dates back to the 15th century and is one of the oldest standing structures in Foggia – it originally served as a customs centre until it was converted into the palatial seat of the Province of Foggia.
Whilst walking through the historic city centre, the palace is a fantastic building to admire, and it also hosts a museum containing a brilliant collection of contemporary and modern art.
Museo del Territorio
If you want to learn about the history of this charming region of Italy, the Museum of the Territory is the perfect place to visit.
You can find this museum on the Via Pasquale Fuiani in close proximity to the Commune and Cathedral.
Once inside the museum, you will find a fantastic variety of exhibitions and displays relating to the history of the Capitanata population during the Christian Era.
Items on display include coins, burial remains, pottery, ceramics, clothing and other houseware.
Each display is presented fantastically and in great detail, and also provides a clear explanation of what is being viewed.
My Erasmus experience, In the first part of my Erasmus mobility adventure, I would like to tell you about my experiences in Foggia, Italy between February and June 2018.
It was a difficult and troublesome process for me. At first, I wanted another country, but I missed the application process with the misdirection of my university (!!!). It was my last semester at university and I would have waited a year to graduate if I had left any courses. After my first registration at the university, my dream was to participate in the Erasmus mobility program. During this time I was attending a language course and I would like to point out that this course has benefited me.
After the necessary documents were signed and collected, I went to a tourism travel agency to obtain a visa. Now that I have my visa, it's time to start the journey. For the first time, I felt very excited to stay in a different country for so long. The plane that departed in Izmir on 2 February arrived in Rome afternoon. Especially this country was the first country I wanted to go to the most and I was happy to realize my childhood dream. I also had the chance to see my faculty in a week. I met the coordinator who was there, and she gave me information about what to do and how the lessons were going. After this meeting, I went to the Office of Foreign Relations for the delivery of documents and registration and there they greeted me happy and warm. Then I went to the house I found. I shared a house with 3 people and they were really good and harmonious people. He was coming from Ukraine and was studying in the Psychology department. He was coming from Taiwan who studying Economics. I want to say that we had a good time with them in 5 months and I had no problems…
Eventually, after moving my new home, it was time to attend events and meet other people. First, I became a member of the „Turkish Group“ on the internet. A week after I arrived, we met in a cafe, I met many people and had a chat. The next week, I attended an event where country food was introduced, together with my Ukrainian roommate. I'd like to say I know a lot of people there. I tried many different flavours and it was a very special activity for me. The welcome party was also held for Erasmus students that week. It was really fun.
My most interesting travel moment, I went to Naples with my Turkish friend. That period was cold and windy. We wanted to stay in the hostel but unfortunately, when we went there we spent one night on the street because they said a different price. The next day, we visited the „Ancient City of Pompeii „ by train. It was located in a very large area and it was in an area with interesting figures. After spending half a day there, we returned to Foggia on the same day.
I had the chance to see many different cities. The city of Venice, which I visited a few days before my country returned, was the place that impressed me the most. It was a city built on canals and a place with a high number of tourists. I recommend you to visit The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark. I would like to mention that you will see a long crowd enter there, especially in the summer.
After these trips and the memories I had accumulated, it was time to return to my country. I had new experiences such as meeting many people, chatting about different topics, trying different tastes, living in a society with different religious elements. I strongly recommend everyone who has the opportunity to participate in these programmes.
I hope we will meet again and hope to spend more time. Never stop exploring!!!
