At Canne della Battaglia, the name arrives before the ruins. Hannibal's defeat of Rome on 2 August 216 BC has given this corner of northern Puglia an extraordinary place in military history. Yet the archaeological park near Barletta asks for a wider view. Above the Ofanto valley, the remains belong to communities whose lives began long before the armies met and continued long afterwards.
The site lies between Barletta and Canosa di Puglia. Its hilltop position helps explain a history of settlement connected with the river and the surrounding territory. Begin with that relationship rather than looking for a single spot where the battle can supposedly be replayed. The landscape provides context, while the museum and excavated structures describe different chapters of occupation.
