Gravina in Puglia: Rock, History and Trails

Gravina in Puglia lies in a karst landscape on the border between Alta Murgia and Murgia Materana. The landscape extends from wheat fields, olive groves and vineyards to the Murgia and Bosco Difesa Grande. In the town, paved lanes, stone houses and impressive squares in the historic centre meet surroundings shaped by rock and watercourses.

Rock, History and Townscape

At the heart of the historic centre is the Museo Ettore Pomarici Santomasi, located in the Palazzo of the same name dating from the 17th century. The Fondazione “Ettore Pomarici Santomasi” includes the permanent exhibition “Aristocrazia e Mito”, featuring finds from the archaeological areas of Gravina, particularly Botromagno. The pieces date from the 7th to the 4th century BC. The numismatic collection comprises 1,608 coins from the Greek, Roman Republican, Roman Imperial, Byzantine, medieval and modern periods.

A defining structure is the Ponte dell’Acquedotto, an arched bridge over the Torrente Gravina that is 37 metres high, 90 metres long and 5.5 metres wide. It connects the two banks. Around the middle of the 18th century, the bridge was reconstructed by the Orsini family and converted into an aqueduct to carry water from the Sant’Angelo and San Giacomo springs.

The rock architecture also makes the history of the town immediately visible. The rock church of San Michele delle Grotte was Gravina’s first cathedral and was carved entirely out of a single block of tuff between the 8th and 10th centuries. The Complesso delle Sette Camere di Gravina is a living space carved completely into the rock in the early Middle Ages, with seven interconnected rooms on three levels. The Castello Svevo of Gravina was built at the behest of Frederick II.

At the Parco Archeologico di Botromagno, painted and plastered tombs from the 5th century BC are visible. The remains of a villa from the 2nd to the 1st century BC have also been preserved there. A special local combination of craftsmanship, art and agropastoral tradition is represented by the Cola-Cola whistle: it is recognised in Gravina in Puglia’s municipal De.C.O. as a typical artistic and agropastoral product of the area.

The Fiera regionale di San Giorgio is also part of the area’s cultural identity. This annual tradition dates back to 1294 and renews trade as well as the ritual of transhumance.

Karst Landscape and Trails

When crossing the Ponte dell’Acquedotto, you reach the rocky landscape on the opposite side from the town situated on the edge of the Gravina. Trails run through the valley, where traces of historical water supply can be found; at the same time, views open up across the Alta Murgia. The bridge thus stands between the townscape of stone and the open landscape, without either area losing its own character.

For hikers, the “sentiero dell’Annunziata e dello staturo” begins at the “San Nicola della Macchia” visitor centre near Bosco “Difesa Grande” in the municipality of Gravina in Puglia. The route follows the Torrente dell’Annunziata, through wetland vegetation and onwards to the wooded Lama del Pisciolo. Another option is a circular hike around the Pulicchio di Gravina. It also lies within the municipality and leads through a coniferous forest, across an agriculturally used plain and past an old Jazzo.

When choosing a hotel for your trip, you can therefore experience Gravina in Puglia from different perspectives: the historic centre brings together the museum, lanes, squares and rock architecture, while the trails described lead into the karst landscape, along watercourses and through wooded areas. The cultural sites and landscape areas each give your personal planning a different direction.

Further places for trip planning: Gorgofreddo, Turi, Monopoli, Spinazzola, Castellana Grotte, Andria, Acquaviva Delle Fonti, Molfetta.

For the overarching travel overview: Bari.