Discover Castellaneta: Rock-Cut Culture, Gravinas and Local Cuisine

Castellaneta combines rock-cut culture with historic religious buildings and regional cuisine. The Montecamplo Nature Reserve is an area of considerable archaeological and natural-historical interest. Since prehistoric times, the rock-cut culture in the Castellaneta area used natural cavities in the tuff rock for residential and ritual purposes.

Gravinas, Rock Settlements and Churches

The rock-settlement culture in Castellaneta reached its greatest extent from the end of the 9th century, during the second Byzantine colonization and the strong expansion of Italo-Greek monasticism. Santa Maria del Pesco lies on the edge of the Gravina di Castellaneta. Santa Maria di Costantinopoli is a rock settlement dating from the 9th to the 10th century in the Gravina di Coriglione.

Santo Stefano is also one of the prominent examples of rock-settlement culture. The 14th-century rock settlement contains preserved frescoes dedicated to Saint Stephen and Saint Nicholas. The rock-cut site of San Michele Arcangelo in the Gravina di Santo Stefano contains 12th-century frescoes depicting Saint Michael and the Madonna and Child. In Castellaneta, different eras and religious visual worlds thus come together within the landscape of the gravinas.

In the historic center, Castellaneta Cathedral stands on the edge of the Gravina Grande and at the highest point of the historic center. It is dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta and has three naves, each with an apse. The central nave is covered by a precious, ornamented wooden ceiling. The Church of San Michele Arcangelo provides another architectural accent: it was designed in 1696 by the architect and Reformed monk Niccolò Melelli from Lequile; construction was completed three years later.

Rodolfo Valentino and Urban Culture

With the Rodolfo Valentino Museum MUV, Castellaneta also pays tribute to a well-known figure in film history. Exhibition panels in the “Grande Amatore” room present the life, seductive charisma and iconic roles of Rodolfo Valentino. The museum also includes 35 film posters and a reconstruction of the film set from “Il figlio dello Sceicco”.

Typical Cuisine from Castellaneta

The local cuisine is characterized by simple dishes with clearly defined ingredients. “A ciallèdd” consists of dry bread soaked in water and seasoned with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, oregano and tomato. In Castellaneta, “Le friselle” are considered a refined version of “a ciallèdd”.

The local focaccia is eaten hot as soon as it comes fresh from the oven. “U calzon” is a Good Friday dish: a shortcrust pastry focaccia filled with stewed onions, pitted olives, capers, raisins and anchovy fillets. A typical product of the local cuisine, fermented strong ricotta “asckuant” is used as a condiment for pasta, legumes, toasted bread, focaccia and fried panzerotti.

A Scenic Connection via the Tratturo

In the Castellaneta area, the Tratturo Melfi–Castellaneta includes a section with a natural area near the Gravina di Santo Stefano and the Gravina di Montecamplo.

More Destinations Nearby

For further orientation, you can also discover Roccaforzata, Marina di Lizzano, Palagianello, Ginosa, Martina Franca, Manduria, Uggiano Montefusco and Leporano.

For the overarching travel overview: Taranto.