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Alta Murgia National Park

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Alta Murgia National Park

Parco Nazionale dell'Alta Murgia (Adda Editore)

The Alta Murgia National Park was established in 1998, thanks to the commitment of the fourteen municipalities of the Alta Murgia area, and is tasked with protecting what is considered a perfect example of a Mediterranean Steppe in Italy. The park stretches from the Adriatic coast to the mountains of Basilicata, its highest point being 670 metres at the peak of mount Caccia. The area is composed mainly of limestone, tuff, clay deposits, sand and alluvial deposits of earth and pebbes which mix with the humus and red earth to form the few cultivatable zones. The pastures have a rather barren appearance but host numerous plant species of great importance such as mosses, lichens and various grasses and ferules. The undergrowth is rich in wild orchids, some of which are native, and dog rose bushes. The whole plateau is abundant in funghi, tubers and bulbs, including edible varieties such as lampascione, wild asparagus and cardoncello mushrooms. The scarsity of human settlements due to the harshness of the plateau has encouraged the presence of numerous species of animals, both native and from the neighbouring areas, such as the green toad, green frog, Kotschy’s gecko, green lizard, fox, beech marten, hare, hedgehog, calandra lark, common raven and lesser kestrel, which has become the symbol of the park.
The Murgia park is crossed by six paths, including number 21 which skirts the 140-kilometre Appian Way. The presence of mankind is given away by dry stone constructions that serve, during the winter months and in pasture season, to gather the livestock. There are also many manor houses in the park which date back to the 14th century and were centres of the local agricultural economy in past centuries.   Some of these, fortified like real castles, served to protect the local inhabitants from raiding bandits and invaders.
One of the park’s great beauties is the Castello del Monte, given world heritage status by UNESCO. The Castle was also chosen by Frederick II as a hunting residence, demonstrating the abundance of game in the area which was, at one time, especially suitable for falconry. 
Archaeological digs have uncovered artefacts from various eras;  from numerous dinosaur footprints in the Potrelli quarry to the sensational find in the Lamalunga caves of the ‘‘Altumura man’’, the only ‘’homo arcaicus’’ found in Italy, dating back to 250,000 years ago.

Many local bodies organise visits to the park, on foot or by bicycle, to experience the ancient paths and local flavours and glimpse the wild animals.

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Address: Via Firenze, 10 - 70024
Municipality: Gravina in Puglia
Province: Bari
Phone: (+ 39)0803262268
Fax: (+ 39)0803262268
Website: www.parcoaltamurgia.it
E-Mail: info@parcoaltamurgia.it

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Accessibility: Accessibility
Entrance: Free of charge

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Sources: By the editorial staff
Updated on: 16/04/2012

European Union
Regione Puglia Regione Puglia
Department Mediterranean -
Culture - Tourism

© Copyright Regione Puglia 2007-2012
Puglia Promozione

Project created in collaboration with InnovaPuglia.