パラジャーノ周辺のアトラクション＆必見スポット - トップ20

Eternal Tara, forgive us if we have not valued your history and your beauty in a land that has seen you, for centuries, found the ancient Taras by those who fled from a useless war in Greek land.

Splendid farmhouse located on a hill from which you can admire the valley below all the way to the sea

The Castle of Massafra, located in the historic center of Massafra, is a medieval castle overlooking the Pizzo Ravine and San Marco. Its structure and architectural motifs are similar to other castles in Apulia, with four towers arranged in a wishbone and pattern and linked by boundary walls. The oldest towers are circular, while the keep is octagonal in the southeast. The first definite record of the castle dates back to the year 970. With the domination of the Angevins, the castle took on the appearance of a fortress, with crenellated ramparts and towers. It underwent further transformations under the Aragonese, and in the 18th century the Imperial family rebuilt the octagonal tower and the front facing towards the ravine, designed by the architect Mauro Manieri Lecce. The castle was in the possession of many owners before eventually being purchased by the city.

South-east of Mottola, in the Gorgone area near the Lamaderchia farm, along the ancient Via Consolare which represents a medieval branch of the Via Appia, stands the jewel in the crown of the Mirabili Grotte di Dio Mottolesi, the rock church of San Nicola, so named by Charles Diehl who was the first to describe it in 1894, an object of devotion for centuries of the local inhabitants, as well as of the Crusaders and pilgrims who travelled to Taranto and Brindisi from the inland regions to embark for the Holy Land. The beauty of its frescoes, cleaned for the first time in 1972 and restored in August 1989, after the vandalism of some heads of the wall icons, have led to it being defined as the Sistine Chapel of the rock civilization in Southern Italy. In truth, in this rock church we find ourselves in front of the most complete and astonishing art gallery of the popular sacred art of Puglia, which manages to fully highlight the testimonies of the various theological and artistic influences of oriental and Latin origin, spanning almost four centuries of the Middle Ages. The church is located on the edge of the ravine and can be accessed via stairs carved into the rock and adapted from the recent iron structure prepared by the Superintendency. A double-ringed lunette surmounts the door to the crypt and on it are visible traces of painted decoration of a half-length haloed figure.

The first certain records of a castle date back to 970. Today the fortress of Massafra is managed by the municipality, which often uses it for events. The municipal library has been set up in some of the rooms inside.

Beautiful stretch of secondary road inside the farmhouse, always surrounded by centenary olive trees.

the castle of Massafra with its imposing walls built overlooking the ravine of San Marco. Discover Puglia by bike on www.viaggiatorelento.com

inside the church there are several frescoes, including the depiction of St. Nicholas who is illuminated at the heart by a ray of light that passes through a hole in the wall, on the day of the equinox