Apulia - Excursions Valley of the Trulli

The marvelous valley of the trulli "Valle d’Itria" stretches along the provinces of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto and is dotted with the enchanting, small, conical trulli houses.

Apart from the trulli, there are quite a number of other sights around Valle d'Itria, which we will introduce you to here.

Excursions - Valley of the trulli

Egnazia – Roman excavation site

The history of Egnazia, also known as Gnathia, which the famous Gnathia pottery is named for, dates back to the Bronze Age, during which the place was settled for the first time. During the early Roman Empire, Egnazia was an important stopover on the way to Brindisi, from where you crossed over to Greece.

The remains of the town wall, the Greek agora, the Roman forum, two Christian basilicas and a large number of graves take visitors back to ancient times.

From the valley of the trulli, it takes you about 20 minutes by car to Egnazia, which is located on the coast between Savelletri and Capitolo.

Dune park "Parco Regionale delle Dune Costiere"

Be it on foot, by bike or on horseback – on a tour through nature reserve Parco Regionale delle Dune Costiere, which stretches along the coast between San Leonardo and Torre Canne, you experience genuine nature. You get to see terrific beaches, 600-year-old juniper trees and ancient olive trees and you get to know the unique flora and fauna of Apulia.

Grotte di Castellana

The grottos with their breathtaking stalactite and stalagmite formations were discovered in the 1930s. They are only 16 km from Alberobello and a popular destination, above all on very hot summer days.

The subterranean labyrinth of caves is 3,700 m in length and one of Italy’s most beautiful cave systems. Highlight of the ca. 2-hour tour is Grotta Bianca, a huge cave of dazzling white. There are also so-called Speleonights, night tours of the grottos – a spectacular experience.

Find more information at www.grottedicastellana.it or call (0039) 080 4998221.

Marine reserve Torre Guaceto

Nature reserve Torre Guaceto is home to a remarkable variety of plants and animals. You can go for a swim in a natural pool; you can also go snorkeling, hiking and sailing, for example. The visitors’ center Centro Visite Al Gawsit includes a museum, aquaria and a botanical garden.

The area is also known for its high-quality Slow Food products, e.g. cold pressed olive oil, honey and the Fiaschetto tomato sauce. Information can be found at www.riservaditorreguaceto.it.

Boat tours from Villanova

Discover Apulia from the sea by taking part in a guided boat tour starting at Villanova. The team of Marco Carani Yachting Service offers two tours: One tour takes you south as far as the ancient fishing village of Santa Sabina, where you stop for a swim in the crystal clear waters of Grotta Azzurra; the other tour takes you north along the varied coastline as far as the bathing resort of Torre Canne.
On board, you are provided with local specialties. More information at marcocaraninautica.

Zoosafari at Fasano

The safari park is a wildlife and theme park. The animals are not kept in cages or compounds, but roam around freely and you watch them from your vehicle – just what a safari in Africa is like. At Fasanolandia, an amusement park, both the young and the young at heart get their money’s worth. Information at www.zoosafari.it.

Polignano a Mare

Polignano a Mare is famous throughout the world for hosting the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. The participants dive from heights up to 27 meters, performing breathtaking leaps. In order to reach the highest cliff, they have to cross a private living room.

Apart from a spectacular location atop a limestone cliff right by the sea, the enchanting small town has a wonderful centro storico with small alleys and picturesque squares.

In summer, after a stroll through the charming town, you might stop at the town’s beach and take a refreshing swim in the sea.