Grottole: History, Pilgrimage and Walking Route

Grottole offers several specific points of interest to help you plan your trip: historic buildings, a pilgrimage after Pentecost, an annual event celebrating local craftsmanship, and a loop trail for a range of outdoor activities. If you are looking for a hotel in Grottole, you can choose where to stay based on which of these interests will shape your trip. Culture and outdoor activities offer two distinct focal points.

Culture and history

Castello di Grottole stands on a hill separated from the rest of the town, in an area historically known as “Contrada della Motta.” The first records of the castle date from 1154. This date refers to the earliest records, not the year it was built. In 1154, al-Idrisi described places in Basilicata and included Grottole in his account. Chiesa Diruta dates from the first half of the 16th century. Thus, the earliest records of the castle and the construction period of Chiesa Diruta represent two separate historical points in time.

Sanctuary and pilgrimage

The first phase of construction of the Santuario di Sant'Antonio Abate dates back to 1371. The sanctuary stands at Fosso Magno, above the Altojanni or Altogianni plateau. It is the destination of a pilgrimage on the Monday and Tuesday after Pentecost. The date of the construction phase and the pilgrimage dates, which are tied to Pentecost, refer to different aspects of the sanctuary’s history. If you are planning your trip around this occasion, check the Pentecost dates for your chosen year.

Loop trail, crafts and cuisine

The “Bosco le Coste” loop trail is 5 km long and is suitable for trekking, horseback riding and mountain biking. In addition to the set distance, the key consideration is whether you want to travel on foot, on horseback or by mountain bike. All three activities use the same loop trail and offer different ways to plan your time outdoors.

Every year, Grottole hosts the “Krùptai, Cultura, Artigianato e Tradizione” event. It celebrates local crafts and traditional skills. The town’s homemade pasta tradition includes r-cchitédd, cavatiédd and sagn-tédd. Crafts and cuisine are distinct aspects of local culture: Krùptai celebrates craftsmanship, while the three names refer to homemade pasta. For planning purposes, the Pentecost pilgrimage and the annual Krùptai event take place at different times; check the dates for each in your chosen year.

Getting there

By road, you can reach Grottole via the Grottole–Salandra exit on the SS 407 “Basentana.” The “Salandra–Grottole” railway stop is connected to Grottole. If you are planning to travel by train, check the current timetable so you can prepare your journey using the relevant information.

Discover more destinations: Pisticci, Bernalda, Montalbano Jonico, Metaponto, Accettura, Lido Quarantotto, Peschiera, Irsina

For the broader travel overview: Matera.