Expanses of centuries-old olive trees and rich Mediterranean vegetation: Itria Valley looks like a paradise on Earth, with old villages, stunning nature and a lot of history. In the heart of the valley, a world-famous destination is Alberobello, a small village characterised by a large number of Trulli (cylindrical constructions that are unique to the area), so much so that it was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996. But there is more to the valley than Alberobello: the countryside is dotted with other exceptional villages. To name but a few, Cisternino, Locorotondo, Martina Franca, known for its Baroque architecture and music festival of the same name, Fasano, and then, of course, Ostuni, the White City, which is home to Paragon 700. Ostuni is the only town in the valley with an outlet to the sea and together with Taranto and Santa Maria di Leuca, it represents one of the ideal summits of the Salento peninsula.
Things to do
- Embark on a ‘journey to the centre of the earth’ at the Grotte di Castellana, open all year round.
- Go back in time to the park of ancient olive trees
- Discover Ceglie Messiapica considered one of the oldest towns in Apulia with an incredibly well-preserved historic centre
- Immerge yourself in the 600 hectares of wooded area that has become a nature reserve that you can visit either on foot or by bicycle. This is a woodland area rich in caves and the two main Gravine are Gravina Pianelle and Gravine del Volo, which can be up to 100 metres deep.
- Visit the Archaeological Park of Egnatia, the ancient Messapian city that became an important commercial centre after being conquered by the Romans.
Curiosity
The term Itria Valley identifies the countryside between Martina Franca, Locorotondo and Cisternino, and Itria Valley road is the entrance to Martina Franca that leads to the point where the present Church of S. Antonio dei Cappuccini stands. Here in medieval times, there was a religious cult cave dedicated to Santa Maria d’Itria, belonging to Basilian monks of the Greek rite, which later became the Convent and Church of Santa Maria d’Itria dei Frati Cappuccini, from which the name derives.
