Laterza: Gravina, Majolica and Sacred Art

In Laterza, natural landscapes and cultural history stand side by side as two distinct themes. The Gravina and the Oasi Gravina di Laterza define the natural setting; Palazzo Marchesale, MuMa and sacred artworks offer insights into the town’s history and majolica art. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether to focus on landscapes and trails or on art and cultural history.

Gravina and Oasi

The Gravina di Laterza stretches for 12 km and reaches 500 metres at its widest point. Its length and maximum width describe two different measurements of this natural area. The Oasi Gravina di Laterza has been part of the Terra delle Gravine Regional Park since 2005. Both the Oasi and this part of the regional park are designated as a ZPS (Special Protection Area) and a ZSC (Special Area of Conservation). If these protected-area designations are important to your plans, check the current designations.

The Oasi can currently be visited by prior request and reservation with its manager. Facilities include a car park, a visitor centre with a classroom and a diorama of the Gravina, and a network of nature trails. Educational and informational signs accompany the trails. Together, these features give you an idea of what the Oasi offers visitors: on-site orientation in the visitor centre and trails through the natural area. Plan your visit by making the required request and reservation.

Two stages with different destinations

Two long-distance routes can also be distinguished by their stages and distances. The section from Laterza to Ginosa is Stage 6 of the Via Ellenica, a 14 km route that is part of the Cammino Materano project. From Laterza to Matera, Stage 8 of the Via Appia is 28 km long. The Via Ellenica stage is therefore half the length of the Via Appia stage, and the destinations are different too: Ginosa and Matera, respectively. If you want to include these routes in your trip, distance, stage number and destination are the key points of comparison.

Palazzo Marchesale and Majolica

The history of Palazzo Marchesale dates back to its 16th-century transformation: Giovanni Battista I D’Azzia had the old castle of Laterza converted into a late-Renaissance residence, the present-day Palazzo Marchesale. The palace houses the IAT tourist assistance and information office, MuMa and the La Cavallerizza conference hall. MuMa was founded in 2015 to preserve the memory of Laterza’s majolica art.

A fresco in the courtyard of Palazzo Marchesale dates from the mid-17th century. It depicts Saint Anne with the Virgin Mary shown as a child. The MuMa collections also offer specific points of interest for exploring ceramic art: the Tondolo collection includes an ornamental plate with horsemen, made towards the end of the 17th century and attributed to Angelo Antonio D’Alessandro. The Mater-Domini collection contains a blue monochrome panel depicting the Crucifixion, dating from 1703. The two objects differ in date, subject and collection context.

Sacred art and festival tradition

In the sanctuary of Maria SS.ma Mater Domini, the main altar features an image of the apparition to the shepherd Paolo Tria. Nicola Nisio painted the work in Rome in 1861. The patronal feast of Maria SS. Mater Domini dates back to 1728 and is celebrated in Laterza from 18 to 21 May. As the annual programme may vary, check the specific festival dates before your trip. Together with the artworks in Palazzo Marchesale, the sanctuary offers another way to explore Laterza’s religious and artistic history.

Discover more destinations: Marina di Lizzano, Manduria, Palagianello, Marina Di Ginosa, Crispiano, Castellaneta Marina, Faggiano, Specchiarica

For the main travel overview: Taranto.