Heracles, the Colossus of Barletta

This 4.5m bronze statue is located in the town of Barletta (about 30k north of Molfetta) outside the Basilico del Santo Sepolcro. Both its subject and origins are surrounded by mystery...but there are lots of fun legends surrounding it, such as the one that says it represents Heracles, or Teodosio II, an Eastern emporer, who for some reason was in Barletta. Since he was taller than the roofs of the buildings and the city walls he noticed that an enemy army was headed toward the town. The Barlettans sent him out of town to await the enemy on the road. The enemy soldiers found him crying noisily and asked him why he was so upset. He replied that he had been kicked out of town because he was the smallest and weakest person around, even the children refused to play with him! The Saracens imagined that the townspeople must all be even bigger than this giant and decided to turn and run. Heracles, of course, became a town hero and is still guarding over the city in the form of a statue.