Gravina: a town to explore in depth

Rock: living, worship and movement

Piaggio, Santovito and the rock church of San Michele reveal a town using stone as living and religious space. Botromagno adds an earlier archaeological history; the San Vito Vecchio frescoes preserved in the museum introduce another relationship between wall and image. Gravina was also an important stopping place on pastoral routes from Lucania. Town and countryside are not separate stories: movement of people and animals belonged to the territory’s life.

Sources: Consorzio Pane di Altamura DOP — Gravina in Puglia

The bridge: reading a need

The aqueduct bridge connects the ravine’s banks and the sanctuary of Madonna della Stella. Its interest extends beyond the view: it makes visible the problem of crossing an incision in the ground while keeping places connected. Before focusing on the most photogenic arch, consider the approaches on both sides and their relationship with the town.

Sources: ENIT — Ponte dell’Acquedotto di Gravina

A palace, a school and a collection

Ettore Pomarici Santomasi’s bequest included the palace and a farm. The Foundation established in 1920 combined an agricultural and dairy school, museum and library: a project linking knowledge with work. The complex now contains a museum, picture gallery, library and archive. Its agricultural origins offer a different perspective on a historic home: the collection began not merely to display objects, but within a commitment to the territory.

Sources: Ministero della Cultura — Fondazione Pomarici Santomasi

Pallone: a shape with a story

Pallone di Gravina is a round cow’s-milk stretched-curd cheese without caciocavallo’s small neck. The Slow Food Presidium promotes raw-milk production and the possibility of extended maturation. After stretching and brining, ageing changes texture and aromas; tradition also recalls caves used for storage. The name alone does not explain a tasting: young and mature examples show different textures and intensities. Transhumance connects the cheese with Murgia pastures.

Sources: Fondazione Slow Food — Pallone di Gravina

Our approach: from the edge to the table

Begin with the relationship between town and ravine, understanding the ground before entering buildings. Then choose a focus: rock spaces or the museum, depending on an interest in environments or images. The bridge becomes a passage in the story rather than an isolated stop. At the table, compare Pallone with bread, asking about maturation and observing changes in texture. Two kinds of work meet: transforming milk and transforming grain. This sequence creates a recognisable memory rather than relying entirely on a list of monuments.

Two Murgia towns, then Matera

Altamura offers the most direct comparison, shifting attention to bread and prehistoric food. Alta Murgia reveals the working landscape between towns; Matera develops the theme of dwelling in rock. Avoid treating Gravina merely as an introduction to the Sassi: it has a cuisine and history of its own. If continuing towards Matera, give the next town a separate day so the comparison remains clear.