Gravina in Puglia

Member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia

Luigi ScorciaGravina in Puglia (BA) 4 CC BY 2.0
DavidebuonoChiesa Madonna delle Grazie (XVI sec.) detta anche dell'Aquila CC BY-SA 4.0
DavidebuonoChiesa del Purgatorio, Santa Maria del Suffragio CC BY-SA 4.0
ArditogiGaragnone CC BY-SA 3.0
G.pareteGravina Cathedral-2016-03-05-WA0002 CC BY-SA 3.0
uscorpiounGravina in Puglia - Vista de la Cattedrale e torrente la 'Gravina'1 CC BY-SA 3.0
DavidebuonoLe Quattro Fontane CC BY-SA 4.0
DavidebuonoPalazzo Sottile Meninni CC BY-SA 4.0
DavidebuonoPalazzo de Gemmis Pellicciari CC BY-SA 4.0
ArditogiParte bradanica CC BY-SA 3.0

A deep limestone ravine, the gravina that gave the town its name, runs along its edge, spanned by an old bridge-aqueduct and lined with churches cut into the rock. When raiders destroyed the earlier settlements in the 5th century, people moved down into the ravine's caves, and the Norman cathedral was later built right on its rim. Gravina is also the seat of the Alta Murgia national park.

Highlights

The bridge-aqueduct across the ravine, restored by the Orsini after 1722
San Michele delle Grotte, a 10th-century church carved into the tuff
The cathedral, with its 17th-century chapel jutting out over the ravine
Fiera di San Giorgio, held every April since 1294
Pallone di Gravina cheese and the white Gravina DOC wine

Text adapted from Wikipedia (Gravina in Puglia (IT), Gravina in Puglia (EN)), Wikivoyage (Gravina in Puglia). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Population: 42,703

Things to see

Events through the year

Fiera di San Giorgio Fairs and markets · 20 to 25 AprilItaly's oldest fair, since 1294: farming, crafts, food, medieval re-enactment
Festa di San Michele delle Grotte Religious · 8 MayAt the rock church, with streets decorated with "balloni"
Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel Religious · 29 SeptemberLights in the centre, a funfair and stalls along Via Orsini
Raduno dei Cortei Storici Medievali Historical · Three days in mid-SeptemberGathering of historical parades, with souvenir stalls in the centre

Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.

Adapted from Wikipedia (Gravina in Puglia), Wikivoyage (Gravina di Puglia). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Local food & wine

Antucco (Wikipedia user)Pallone di Gravina CC BY-SA 3.0
Pallone di GravinaCheeseCheese made locally, a Slow Food Presidium
Gravina DOC wine (IT)WineWhite wine, still or sparkling, from Malvasia, Greco and Bianco d'Alessano
AntuccoTegliadisasanelli CC BY-SA 3.0
SasanelloSweetCrumbly biscuit made with fig vincotto and orange peel
Cardoncello mushroomLocal produceMushroom of the Gravina Murgia, for sauces, side dishes or in oil
PizzintellaCured meatSausage from lesser cuts of pork, eaten fresh or dried
Sweet ricotta calzoni with ragùDishRavioli-like pasta served at feasts, sweet filling and meat sauce

Adapted from Wikipedia (Gravina in Puglia). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to sleep

8 places to stay within 3 km

Hotels 7
B&Bs and guest houses 1

Thermal baths nearby

Thermal spa: Locanda di San Martino · ~34 min by car

Nearby member villages

Irsina · 18 km
Miglionico · 29 km
Acerenza · 40 km
Sammichele di Bari · 45 km
Castelmezzano · 45 km