グロッターリエのおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

the church and the Monastery of Santa Chiara have been home to the community of the Poor Clares since 1591

We found several places where staircases and sidewalks were decorated with ceramic tiles. Very appealing!

There are many ceramics workshops in the immediate vicinity. Despite the similarity in the motifs, the workshops usually have their own unique style. Today—off-season—the neighborhood was very quiet, and some shopkeepers took the time to explain some of the special features to us. It's worth stopping by the shops; you'll probably find something beautiful to take home.

After a certain age, the olive tree grows more and more slowly until it is influenced by the slow movement of the Earth's rotation. And one of the frequent characteristics of the olive trees of Puglia is that of presenting a torsion from the bottom to the top always in the same direction, that is, clockwise.

The Sanctuary of the Madonna Mutata of Grottaglie stands on land where there was a church dating back to the 10th century, on the border between Martina Franca and Grottaglie. According to tradition, the current dedication to the Virgin Mutata is subsequent to the miracle that occurred in 1359. Inside the 10th century church there was an image depicting the Madonna, placed on the wall facing south, that is, in the direction of Martina Franca, which therefore claimed ownership. By miracle the image was found on the north wall, confirming once and for all that it belonged to the city of Grottaglie.

Monte Salete is a settlement inhabited without interruption from the Late Bronze Age to the Roman era and subsequently occupied by a medieval fortress, traces of which have been identified at Monte Salete, an isolated hill 166 m above sea level, located east of Montemesola (TA) and arranged in terraces sloping towards the SSE. In 1967, an excavation conducted by the Archaeological Superintendency on one of the terraces of the hill brought to light a complex stratigraphic sequence, which goes without interruption from the Late Bronze Age to the Hellenistic age.

The Gravina del Fullonese is an important rock settlement that has hosted pilgrims walking along the Appian Way for centuries. Walking along the ravine you will discover the numerous caves that open up along the sides of the ravine, covered with thick bushes of thyme, wild thyme and rue that intensely perfume the environment, while trees occupy the various terraces. The caves have various shapes depending on the various needs of the people who inhabited them over the centuries. The name "fullonese" derives from "fullones" or tanner or dyer, a profession practiced by a small colony of Jews, who escaped the massacre and fire of Oria in 977. Path recommended for expert hikers due to the presence of stepped differences in height.

Beautiful little church to visit!!!