Bisceglie

Bisceglie (Italian: [biʃˈʃeʎʎe]; Biscegliese: Vescégghie) is a city and municipality of 55,251 inhabitants in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, in the Apulia region (Italian: Puglia), in southern Italy. The municipality has the fourth highest population in the province and fourteenth highest in the region. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, with at least two caves showing evidence of occupation during the Neolithic. Its name probably derives from the Latin "vigilae", "watchtowers", suggesting the importance of its location on the Adriatic Sea during the time of the Roman Empire. The modern city finds its roots in the settlement by Italo-Normans in the eleventh century. Today, it is an important agricultural hub, with manufacturers mainly in the textile industry, and it is a tourist destination. It was awarded Blue Flag Beach certification in 2001 for high environmental and quality standards. Scallette and Salsello Beaches were also certified in 2003, 2005 and 2006.