What to see and what to do in Murge

Considering the most important speleological complex in Italy and Europe, they extend for about 3 kilometers between natural tunnels, colossal stalagmites and stalactites, caverns and limestone rocks.

The Museum of Pre-Classical Civilizations of the Southern Murgia was opened to the public on 14 May 1989. The Museum is located in the rooms of the former monastery of Santa Maria Maddalena dei Pazzi. It contains materials found in an archaeological area in the municipality of Ostuni. The most interesting are the cast of the Woman of Ostuni, some ceramics and ornaments ranging from the Paleolithic to the age of metals.

In the Archaeological Park there are numerous finds from the ancient city of Gnathia. Outside the walls, there is the necropolis of the Messapian era, which welcomed burials carried out with different rites. Inside the walls, pre-Roman tombs were discovered. In addition, among the tombal kits found, there are also painted vases, known as 'ceramics of Egnatia'.

The E.Pomarici Santomasi Foundation is located in the seventeenth-century Palace originating from the Santomasi family, then linked to that of the Pomarici of Montepeloso. The exhibition space is distributed over three floors. On the ground floor there is a permanent exhibition of vintage clothes belonging to the Pomarici family. On the first floor is the Library that boasts 36,000 volumes including precious manuscripts and scrolls. On the top and second floor there is the space dedicated to archaeology that collects local coins and relics of excavations of pre-Roman times.

The Civic Museum is located in the Palace of Bali. It contains works, objects, furniture and a collection of weapons belonging to the eighteenth century. Since 1967 the Palace has been owned by the Municipality, given to him by Prince Romanazzi Carducci.

The pulo is set in one part of the Murgia altamurana, where the activity of water has signed the landscape forming channels and holes rich in mineral beauties.

Close to Piazza Foggiali, the palace shows the signs of centuries in its stones. It belongs to the long Baldassarre dinasty, first builders, then enterpreneurs, it was inhabited by descendants of the family.

Among the natural fissures extends, in the karst rocks (Tuff), the famous cave-church dedicated to Archangel Michael that was the first cathedral of Gravina (sec. X).

Located on the left side of the “Gravina” stream, it is a very suggestive rock complex in which the sacred and the profane seem to merge. Primitive seat, perhaps, of pagan cults, it later became the oldest symbol of Marian worship.

The aqueduct bridge was built thanks to the contribution of the Duke of Gravina ORSINI in the mid-'700.It connects the Church Madonna della Stella and the Archaeological Park of BOTROMAGNO with the ancient city. medieval

With three naves divided by columns, shows polychrome altars of early eighteenth century. Works of art: baptismal font by Pope Benedict XIII. the choir of late ' 500; wooden ceiling decorated with gold. In the sacristy a finely carved wooden bar (1561).

In Altamura, there is an archaeological site, dating back about 70 million years ago, with footprints of herbivores and carnivores dinosaurs. There are footprints of more than 200 specimens of at least 5 different species. The discovery of the deposit was possible thanks to the work of the paleontologist Umberto Nicosia and Fabio Petti.

The Swabian Castle stands on a hill, is a building that dates back to the Middle Ages and was erected at the behest of Frederick II. One of the main purposes was to act as a home during the hunting trips that the emperor was doing. It was also used as a venue for the meetings of the Curia. Today it can be visited only from the outside.

The Botromagno Archaeological Park is the place of greatest interest in Gravina in Puglia because it houses the remains of a Neolithic civilization. Some painted and plastered tombs of the 5th century BC are visible from the ancient city and the remains of a villa from the 2nd- I century BC.

Funeral chapel of the Orsini family. In the presbytery perfect reduction of the dome of St. Peter, stands the altar by Francesco Guarino and a central altar inlaid in polychrome marble. The side altars in bicromes marble (s. XVII) are valuable

The Clock Tower is the only example of Gothic art in Puglia. In 1980, due to a strong earthquake, the tower was seriously damaged. Later, it was rebuilt, and today it is in an excellent state of preservation.

Palazzo Ducale Orsini dates back to the sixteenth century and has a basically Baroque style. The name was given to him because it was the home of Pier Francesco Orsini. This character was very important because it was the Pope, appointed Benedict XIII, who called the Jubilee in 1725.

The Sanctuary of Madonna della Grazia was built in 1602 as the residence of the bishop and seminarians. Its structure follows the logic of building the Tuscan order, with 12 oval stone medallions depicting the apostles. In 1980 the church was restored, completely transforming the structure of the building into that of a basilica. The bell tower dates back to the 19th century.

An architectonic complex constituted of an ensamble of elements offering an armonic beauty. The original romanic-pugliese style is also named "federiciano" for the insights of Federico II.

This cave is characterized by a system of carsic cavities and narrow tunnels. After a corridor of about 60 meters, you can see the surprising archaeologic finding known as the Man of Altamura, the fossil skeleton of a man.

Palazzo De Angelis-Viti is one of the most representative and best preserved examples of palaces of the type house at court. It is located near the Gate of Bari. The building has changed over the years. The initial part, that of the building building which includes the ground floor and the main floor, dates back to the beginning of construction, with also the entrance portal and the internal loggia. Between the 17th and 18th centuries, the entrance portal was modified and the second floor was completed.

Masseria Calderoni is a building that was built in the first half of the 16th century. Over time, the building was owned by the Calderoni family. Today the building is owned by the Netti family.

Masseria Casino De Angelis was built in the 17th century. It consists of a productive and functional residence. The ownership of the land is of the Viti family.

The Civic Museum of Campo di Alano Piave is located in the garden of the building and is divided over three floors. It presents objects, documents, iconographies related to the Great War of '15-18 and to emigration. You can see objects collected in the battlefield, photographs and original documents of the time. The Museum tells the story of 'Recuperants'. The structure is constantly changing to adapt to the needs of the materials on display.