Discover Gravina In Puglia

Gravina In Puglia lies in a karst landscape on the border between Alta Murgia and Murgia Materana. The town combines a historic center with a striking ravine landscape; the municipal area also includes fields, groves, vineyards and Bosco Difesa Grande. The different facets of the town can be seen in its buildings and collections, as well as in the landscapes along its trails.

Old Town, Ravine and Aqueduct Bridge

Paved lanes, stone houses and impressive squares define the historic center. At the Torrente Gravina, the Ponte dell’Acquedotto connects the two banks. The arched bridge is 37 meters high, 90 meters long and 5.5 meters wide. Around the middle of the 18th century, the Orsini family had it rebuilt and converted into an aqueduct to carry water from the Sant’Angelo and San Giacomo springs.

Crossing the bridge takes you from the town, situated on the edge of the Gravina, into the rocky landscape on the opposite side. There are trails in the valley, traces of the historic water supply system and views of Alta Murgia. The bridge thus connects architectural history and landscape: its former role as a waterworks is part of the surroundings that open up beyond the town.

Buildings, Museum and Archaeology

The Museo della Fondazione “Ettore Pomarici Santomasi” is housed in the eponymous 17th-century palazzo in the heart of the historic center. The permanent exhibition “Aristocrazia e Mito” includes finds from the archaeological areas of Gravina, especially Botromagno, dating from the 7th to the 4th century BC. The numismatic collection includes 1,608 coins from the Greek, Roman Republican, Roman Imperial, Byzantine, medieval and modern periods. Reservations are required to visit the museum and library.

The rock church of San Michele delle Grotte was Gravina’s first cathedral. It was carved entirely out of a single block of tufa between the 8th and 10th centuries. Another testimony to earlier ways of life is the Complesso delle Sette Camere: carved entirely into the rock in the early Middle Ages, this dwelling consists of seven interconnected rooms on three levels. Painted and plastered tombs dating from the 5th century BC can be seen in the Parco Archeologico di Botromagno; the remains of a villa dating from the 2nd to 1st century BC have also been preserved there.

The Fiera regionale di San Giorgio is also part of local tradition. Held annually, it dates back to 1294 and renews trade as well as the ritual of transhumance. Check the dates for the relevant year before your trip.

Hiking Trails and Nature in the Municipal Area

The landscape includes wheat fields, olive groves, vineyards, the Murgia and Bosco Difesa Grande. A hike along the “sentiero dell’Annunziata e dello staturo” starts at the “San Nicola della Macchia” visitor center near Bosco Difesa Grande. It follows the Torrente dell’Annunziata, passes through wetland vegetation and continues to the wooded Lama del Pisciolo.

Another described loop goes around Pulicchio di Gravina. Its stops include a pine forest, an agricultural plain and an old jazzo; this hike also takes place within the municipal area of Gravina In Puglia. The two trail descriptions emphasize different features: the Annunziata trail follows a watercourse and passes through wetland vegetation, while the loop around Pulicchio takes in a sequence of forest, plain and jazzo.

Practical Information

Tours of Gravina Sotterranea start at Via Meucci 10 in the historic center. They run regularly on weekends and are available during the week by reservation only. Check the latest tour information before your visit. Together with the hiking trails and historic sites, they offer a range of themes to consider when planning your trip, without requiring all experiences to be assigned to the same part of the town or landscape.

Discover more destinations: San Bartolomeo, Losciale, Lamie di Olimpia, Quasano, Giovinazzo, Monopoli, Santo Spirito, Triggianello.

Return to the main travel overview: Bari.