Hike ancient Roman roads
See birds of prey in the Land of Ravines
Cave and climb with a guide in Oasi Gravine di Laterza
For those who prefer to explore by foot, the Sallentina, Appia and Ellenica paths are great places to start. Via Sallentina traces a pre-Roman route for 160 km along the Salento peninsula through the lands of the Messapi tribe. The Appian Way is one of the oldest and strategically most important Roman roads of the ancient republic. Ellenica is a 20km section of the 7 Ways of the Cammino and is an easy route that takes no longer than five hours to complete.
Not to be left out, there are also ancient rural paths perfect for cyclers such as Appia, Borboni and Acquedotto. These are free of traffic, so make sure to pack a picnic lunch and make a tranquil day of exploring.
Terra Delle Gravine translates to “Land of Ravines”, so it’s not surprising that there are so many birds of prey here that strategically hunt in the dramatic canyons. Those who are fond of bird watching will have the chance to see such diverse species as the Egyptian Vulture, the Lanner Falcon, the Peregrine Falcon, the Common Buzzard, the Hoopoe, the Blue Rock Thrush, the Eagle-Owl and even the rare Black Stork.
Gravina di Laterza is considered to be the most important example of the karst – tectonic phenomenon at the European level. The entire area, filled with pine forests, Macedonian oaks and holm oaks forests has been protected as an oasis since 1984. Adventure-seekers have plenty to explore here through both caving and climbing – local guides are available to show you around.
A coastal paradise at the southern point of Puglia, most activities here revolve around the gorgeous water. Whether you want to explore world famous sea caves, scuba, snorkel, kite surf or cliff climb, every day here is a fabulous day for the beach.
This untouched inland destination of gentle undulating countryside has immense natural biodiversity to explore year round. Because of how the park is positioned, visitors are rewarded with incredible landscapes at sunrise and sunset. The area is known for its archaeological finds of great importance, such as the well preserved fossil skeleton of the “Man from Altamura”, who lived here 150 thousand years ago.
This destination in southern Puglia is a natural paradise with the Mediterranean bush and a marine protected area of sandy coves and translucent water ideal for scuba and snorkel. There is even a beach which has been awarded 3 Sails by Legambiente (an Italian environment protection association) – an honor given only to the most beautiful beaches.
This coastal destination in the north is just 1 hour drive from Bari and rewards visitors with some of the oldest trees in Italy (Aleppo pines) and islands surrounded by crystal-clear Mediterranean waters. Covering over 120,000 hectares, there are endless options to explore on land and water.
This coastal destination in the north is just 1 hour drive from Bari and rewards visitors with some of the oldest trees in Italy (Aleppo pines) and islands surrounded by crystal-clear Mediterranean waters. Covering over 120,000 hectares, there are endless options to explore on land and water.
