The Twinning Between Barletta And Herceg Novi

Abstract

This article focuses on the 1969 twinning between Barletta and Herceg Novi, framed within the broader historical relations between Puglia and Montenegro. The primary aim is to explore this twinning as a pivotal example of Puglia-Montenegro ties during the late 1960s, emphasising its role in fostering Adriatic solidarity amid Italy’s outreach to Tito’s non-aligned Yugoslavia. Rooted in Barletta’s construction of a Slavic ossuary honouring Yugoslav partisans killed in southern Italy, the initiative reflected Puglia’s anti-fascist memory practices and shared wartime sacrifices with Montenegrin communities. Prelude agreements in May and September 1968 created an “Adriatic bridge,” with reciprocal council visits laying groundwork for deeper collaboration between the Puglian port and the coastal town. This twinning exemplified Puglia’s strategic port-city diplomacy with Montenegrin hubs, countering Cold War divisions through grassroots ties and anticipating future cross-border integration models. By positioning Barletta as a reconciliation bridgehead, it influenced enduring Italo-Balkan networks, underscoring municipal actors’ agency in the Cold War détente.