Trulli, Murgia e Valle d'Itria

The Murge Plateau stretches from the Northwest to the Southeast between the lower Ofanto Valley and the Northern part of the Salento peninsula.

The soil is made up of white-greyish limestones that are widely used as building materials. The absence of waterways prevented the formation of real vallini systems. Karstic phenomena are very frequent. An agricultural economy prevails in the region with vineyards and olive groves.

On Murgia rises Castellana Grotte known mainly for the karst complex of the Caves of Castellana, among the most extensive and suggestive of Italy.

The sightseeing tour runs along a fascinating backdrop for about 1 km. The longest itinerary takes two hours and develops for 3 km, between caves and chasms with mythological or fantastic names. From the Grave to the Black Cave or the Capitoline Lupa, after passing the Cavernone of the Monuments, the Stocking and the Cavern of the OWL, crossed the Corridor of the Serpent, the Cavern of the Precipice and the Little Paradise, we proceed for the long Corridor of the Desert also called the Grand Canyon Underground, then you reach the Cave of the Tower of Pisa, the clear Pond of water of dripping, the Red Corridor, the Cave of the Dome and finally passing by the glittering Crystal Pond, you reach the extraordinary White Grotto, bright and shining, considered the most beautiful cave in the world.

Valle D'Itria is a portion of the Central Puglia region, straddling the counties of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto. Its territory coincides with the Southern part of the plateau of Murge. The Trulli, typical and exclusive stone houses in the shape of a cone, are the main peculiarity of the valley.

When it is said Trullo, the memory runs immediately to Alberobello, city of the Trulli par excellence, but with an important difference compared to other areas of Murge: here, in fact, the Trulli are not mostly isolated and used for agricultural shelter, but gathered in groups and aligned along the steep and winding streets that climb along the flanks of an entire hill, constituting real quarters.

This particular typology of the cupolform roof, entirely realized with worked limestone stones, overlapped to dry one on the other and arranged in concentric circles sloping, represents the expression of an architecture among the most original of the region, and the whole complex was included in the list of the Italian heritage belonging to the patrimony of mankind, drawn up by UNESCO.

Alberobello rises on two hills: on the Eastern hill there is the new city with modern architectural features; on the other summit, placed in the West, the Trulli are aligned in a small urban agglomeration divided in two wards called Monti and Aia Piccola.

The agrarian landscape is characterized by a dense vegetation of almond and olive trees that thrives on a karst terrain.

The journey through Valle D'itria continues with the visit of other suggestive cities:

Locorotondo, famous for its white wine "Locorotondo". The city belongs to the association of "The most beautiful villages of Italy ". The City was called up to mid-nineteenth century "Luogorotondo " for the characteristic round shape of the town.

Fasano, a town that marks the border between Salento and the Land of Bari. The town, , was aggregated to the new county in 1927, together with the nearby Cisternino.

Selva di Fasano is particularly suggestive, it is a hill overlooking the valley and the town of Fasano, overlooking the territory of the Trulli and caves, offering numerous panoramic and quiet views to those who want to walk the tree-lined avenues.

Zoo Safari also located on the adjacent hills, where there are attractions, games, restaurants, but especially numerous animal species, partially kept in the wild.

Martina Franca, known for the Itria Valley Music Festival, founded in 1975 by Alessandro Caroli, stands on the Southern slopes of Murgia, on the border of the counties of Taranto, Brindisi and Bari.

Elegant town located at 431 m. high above sea level, nestled on one of the last Southern hills of South-Eastern Murgia, Martina Franca dominates the enchanting Valle d'itria, a beautiful green expanse of the white Trulli.

The main attraction of the city is undoubtedly the characteristic Old Town, a splendid example of Baroque art, with its narrow streets, its white alleys, the stately palaces and the majestic and monumental churches. Martina Franca enjoys a rich landscape punctuated by the ancient "Casedde ", the famous Trulli and the typical constructions of the farms, precious testimonies of industrial archaeology.

There are still other magical places such as Monopoli, Savelletri, Torre Canne, Cisternino and Ostuni, the famous "White City".

Typical Products

The wine produced in Locorotondo is particularly well-known and recognized as DOP

These locations are very few km away, so Puglia Open Tour offers organized excursions in Valle D’Itria.