アルタムルギア国立公園周辺のアトラクション＆必見スポット - トップ20

A handful of kilometers from Ruvo di Puglia and Corato, this bridge overlooks the Scoparella forest and the so-called jazzo del Demonio, two of the last wooded places where it is still possible to find specimens of downy oak, once much more present throughout the Apulian territory.

Jazzo del Demonio recalls a disturbing story from 1870, when two shepherds, taking refuge in the jazzo, met a tired traveller. A sudden revelation of his cloven hooves revealed his demonic identity, giving the place an atmosphere of sulphurous curse and a tale passed down for over 150 years.

Once taken place, however, everything suddenly changes. Sitting down, the gentleman lifts his habit, leaving his legs uncovered and thus showing two goat legs that end in a hoof. The shepherds, moved by enormous fright, scream "the devil", taking refuge under an iron crucifix. And the mysterious gentleman at that point, after glaring at the two, vanishes in a flash, leaving behind only the smell of sulfur. The next morning the shepherds, after spending a night on the alert, told everyone about the strange encounter. The story spread everywhere and since then, more than 150 years later, there isn't a person who passes by here doesn't remember the night when the Devil got lost in the countryside of the isolated Murgia.

It is a winter night in 1870 when two shepherds with their flock take refuge in the jazzo to find shelter from the cold. While they are around the fire, their dogs start barking for no reason, one after the other for at least half an hour, until the wind stops whistling. At that moment the shepherds, wrapped in a surreal silence, are moved by a loud and repeated knock on the door. So they go to open the door and find a dilapidated traveler on the threshold, covered in a habit and a large hood. The man reports that he lost his way and was drawn there by the smoke from the fire. Despite the strange tone of voice, somewhat hoarse and difficult to understand, the two let him in to offer him shelter.

A very singular story gives the name to this site: in fact, it is said that on a winter night in 1870 Satan in person visited two shepherds who, with their flock, had stopped to rest in the jazzo.

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.

Is it feasible with gravel bikes?

Very suggestive place, memory of the period of transhumance (ie the movement of livestock). The name "Jazzo del Demonio" is very evocative and comes from a legend featuring two shepherds and, of course, the devil. It is worth stopping for a few moments to observe the stone structure but above all to admire the centenary oak enclosed in what was once the sheep pen.