Top 6 Caves 카스텔라네타 주변

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 rock church of Saint Sofia comes with two beautiful Byzantine frescoes. Saint Sofia is identified in hagiographical tradition with the figure of Sofia of Milan, the mother of Saints Faith, Hope and Charity, whose veneration is attested for the sixth century. However, there are conflicting hagiographical traditions; one tradition makes Sofia herself a martyr under the Diocletian Persecution (303/4). This conflicts with the much more widespread hagiographical tradition (BHL 2966, also extant in Greek, Armenian and Georgian versions) placing Sofia, the mother of Faith, Hope, and Charity, in the time of Hadrian (second century) and reporting her dying not as a martyr but mourning for her martyred daughters.

Grotta Croce, located in Gravina di Laterza, is one of the many karst caves in this suggestive canyon in Puglia. Famous for its natural beauty and historical interest, the cave offers spectacular limestone formations. Explored by speleology enthusiasts and hikers, it is part of the Terra delle Gravine Natural Park, an area rich in biodiversity and characterized by deep ravines and hidden caves. Grotta Croce also has archaeological value, with finds that testify to human presence in ancient times.

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Grotta Croce is a natural cavity located in the ravine of Laterza, a deep canyon dug by the river Lato. The cave has a shape resembling a Greek cross and a vault 9 meters high, and is inhabited by many birds, such as kestrels and swifts. It is part of the Lipu Oasis, a protected area for nature conservation

The rock sanctuary stands in the center of a natural oasis of peace and beauty. the church is dedicated to the Madonna del Carmine

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

Take a long walk through this valley with the many cave dwellings. You can easily walk back to the starting point through the village.