Micheladipinto
Murge is in Apulia region.
Understand
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If you are on holiday in Apulia and you want to give yourself a break from the chaotic city life, I suggest you take a car and immerse yourself in the suggestive nature of the Murgia. It is a karst plateau that extends throughout Apulia and Basilicata. This territory is characterized by fascinating landscape, where among rocky ridges, sinkholes, karst caves and oak woods, you can see stone farmhouses, with fences and stables for flocks of sheeps, cultivated fields, little churches and endless networks of dry-stone walls. It is the ideal place for nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts, but also for those who are interested in history. Indeed, here people can breathe the medieval atmosphere, thanks to the presence of castles dating back to the Norman-Swabian domination, such as the majestic Castel del Monte, and they can travel with their minds even further back in time, to discover the life of primitive men and even dinosaurs. The plateau has, in fact, numerous traces of the presence of man since prehistory, such as caves paintings, dolmens and skeletons, but also preserves the footprints of the great reptiles near Altamura city.
See
editCastel del Monte (Strada Statale 170, 76123, Andria, https://www.casteldelmonte.beniculturali.it/?language=en, 9am-17pm Mon-Sun; full price ticket € 7.00, reduced price ticket € 2, 00 for 18-25 years old UE citizen) is situated on the peak of an isolated hill in Andria. It is considered the most fascinating castle built by Frederick II and at the same time the most mysterious. A masterpiece of medieval architecture, built in the 13th century, it is characterized by an unusual octagon shape with octagonal towers at each corner. This sets it apart from all other castles, making it unique in the world. For its outstanding universal value, UNESCO included Castel del Monte on its World Heritage list in 1996. A little curiosity that tourists should know is that the image of the castle appears on the Italian 1 cent coin.
The Spinazzola bauxite quarry (https://www.parcoaltamurgia.gov.it/) is a place that you cannot miss. It was a ore body in which between the 50s and 70s there was the extraction of this mineral, that was used for the production of aluminum. Subsequently abandoned, the quarries today represent a place of important environmental value. It seems to be in a painting, where the red earth mixes with the green of the vegetation, with the blue of the sky and the small pond in the heart of the quarry. It is a magical place that, due to its beauty in 2019, even attracted a National Geographic troupe, who, surprised by this landscape, said "Amazing!".
The Rocca del Garagnone (https://www.parcoaltamurgia.gov.it/) are the ruins of a medieval castle near the town of Poggiorsini. Located on the top of a hill, it was built in the Norman-Swabian era by Frederick II but due to the earthquake of 1731, the fortress collapsed. Despite this, the Rocca continues to live after centuries, camouflaging itself among the rocks of its territory, and for this reason it is called “Invisible Castle”. The Rocca del Garagnone is an ideal place for hiking, trekking and cycling, for those who love nature and history at the same time. In fact, among the mystical silences of the Alta Murgia you can still hear the echo of kings and knights.