text: The Royal Customs of Apulian Sheep (1447-1806) was an administrative, fiscal, judicial and commercial institution of the Reign of Naples created to rule the groups of shepherds coming from Abruzzi into Apulia during the pasture migration.
  The shepherds used to pay a tribute, called fida, according to the number of sheep led to pasture, while the Custom used to assure them sufficient pasture, wide and safe tracks and a certain amount of salt; to the livestock owners and to their staff the institution ensured armed protection on the tracks, in the bakeries, spread all around the lowlands of Apulia, and fixed price for bread, protection near churches and country Inns and above all it ensured to solve all their issues, even private, in the Custom Court.
  The Lowland of Apulia (this was the name of the land for pasture) included the Daunia territory, the Land of Bari and the Land of Otranto. It was divided in 23 general locations and in 20 additional ones where there were several stage stations (more information on: amarterra).
  Posta Santa Croce was included in one of those locations, the Location of Andria, as it is shown in a map from 1686 kept in the Public Record in Foggia.
  Between the end of 1700 and the beginning of 1800 a rural church adjacent to the Posta was included in the building. In 1811 a new church was built, dedicated to the Saint Cross ant to the blessed Pietro d’Alcantara.
  In 1856 a small main dwelling was built, strangely embellished by frescos by local painters Santoro father and son. Then the building lost its original function of stage station and was transformed into a farm cottage while one of the former cow-shed was turned into a mill.
  In 1952 the cistern crashed because of the heavy rains. The cistern has been rebuilt and partially returned to its former function. The building and the surrounding land belong to the same family since the end of 1700.
  
  