The Alta Murgia landscape has been hewn out of the limestone rock, eroded by the wind and, even more, by rainwater rich in carbon dioxide over the centuries, to create an outstanding carsic heritage both on the surface and below ground, imparting an astonishingly scenographic aspect to the area with

Barletta, 23 km from Villa Gioia, is an ancient town with some interesting monuments to see. One of these are the Cathedral dedicated to S. Maria Maggiore, built in 1140 in Romanesque style and the Castle, of Norman origin but rebuilt by the Swabians in 1234. Inside the Castle it

Castel del Monte, 15 km from Villa Gioia, is one of the most fascinating and mysterious places in Italy. Built around 1240 by Holy Roman Emperor Federico II, nicknamed “Stupor Mundi” for his eclecticism and his enormous culture, bequeathed his own mysterious air and enigmatic legacy to the Castle itself. The castle

Know as “The Pearl of Puglia”, Trani is a really picturesque and evocative fishing port, between Bari and Barletta, and a lovely little town with charming historic centre and lots of laneways to explore. Start to explore Trani from the Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino, one of Puglia’s most beautiful and

Bitonto, 21 km from villa Gioia, is a small city with a very elegant old town that preserves many important churchs, beautiful historic buildings of the 15th-16th century and the majestic Torrione Angioino The Cathedral of Bitonto is considered one of the most sublime expressions of the Apulian Romanesque style.

Ruvo di Puglia is located just 7 km from Villa Gioia and it is part of the Murge karst landscape. Ruvo boasts a long history rooted in legends and myth as witnessed by the heroes, gods and divinities. athletes, imaginary or real animals painted on the Greek, Magna Greek, and

The earliest settlements dating back to the Paleolithic, make Gravina (Sidion for the Greeks and Silvium for the Romans), a city with a very ancient history. Located on one of the sides of a ravine, more than 100 metres deep, very similar to a canyon, where the presence of numerous rock

Altamura, 37 km from Villa Gioia, is a medieval town in Murgia’s heart where time seems to have stopped. The historic centre, located just inside the megalithic walls from which the village takes its name, dated back to 500 BC, it is full of palaces, churches, and legendary “cloisters”, small

The town of Matera is situated on the border between the regions of Puglia and Basilicata, 60 km from Villa Gioia, and it is one of the most surprising cities of art to visit. Matera is a unique city, an extraordinary timeless place. It’s also the city of the famous Sassi, the first site

Shining and suggestive, unique for its crystalclear water and cliffs overlooking the sea, Polignano a Mare, tiny and old town, 80 km far from Villa Gioia, it is known as the “Pearl of Adriatic”. The captivating town sports multi-leveled whitewashed buildings jumbled up like stacked sugar cubes. The Arco della Vecchia Porta

Located roughly 70 km from Villa Gioia, considered the most important speleological complex in Italy and in Europe, the Castellana Caves are much appreciated for their vast alabaster concretions, their striking dimensions, and the spectacular scale of their natural tunnels. Created by underground river erosion for centuries, this fashinating karstic

The Trulli are famous worldwide for their beauty and unique characteristics, and represent one of the most extraordinary examples of Italian folk architecture that still survives and is in use today. Located in the heart of Valle d’Itria, Alberobello, the capital of the trulli, 97 km far from Villa Gioia, embodies uniqueness and historical charm and it

The coast surrounding this expansive promontory seems permanently bathed in a pink-hued, pearly light, providing a painterly contrast to the sea, which softens from intense to powder blue as the evening draws in. It’s one of Italy’s most beautiful corners, encompassing white limestone cliffs, fairy-tale grottoes, sparkling sea, ancient forests,