カッサーノデッレマージの天然記念物・トップ6

Beautiful forest walk in an area where there are few other opportunities to walk in the forest. Very quiet.

Whoever comes to the forest cannot miss it

“Leave a stone for those who pass by”

Centuries-old oak in the Mercadante Forest, testimony to the strength and beauty of nature. The paths to reach it are easily accessible and suitable for people of all levels.

The Mercadante Forest is a protected wooded area that extends for 1,300 hectares between the municipalities of Cassano delle Murge and Altamura. It was born in 1928 from a reforestation project after a flood, and hosts different species of trees, such as oaks, cedars and cypresses. It is the ideal place to cool off among the trees on hot summer days and take a break in one of the areas equipped with picnic tables.

Nature & peace

The Grotta del Colombo, like many other caves in the surrounding area, was born thanks to the karst phenomena that affect the area. In ancient times they were a place of refuge for prehistoric men.

The Pulo di Altamura is a sinkhole of karst origin of the bowl type, created by the channeling of rainwater right at this point. This created a more or less circular depression with a diameter of about 500 m. with a maximum depth of 75 meters. Along the walls, which are very steep in some points, caves and ravines have been created which indicate the different levels of excavation by the waters. These caves represent a real archaeological heritage because they were inhabited since the earliest ages of prehistory. The route includes an unpaved stretch of about 1 km that can also be easily covered by racing bike.