Fenix Tours
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The phenomenon of living in cave has constituted an uninterrupted tradition in Puglia, due to the particular geomorphological characteristics of the area, as well as the presence of water and some important communication routes, such as the Via Appia. The local rock, tender and porous, has been excavated and shaped for centuries, and caves and tunnels have been modeled for the needs of everyday life, demonstrating the great ability of man to adapt to the environment.
In Puglia, many rock settlements are located along the sides of karstic valleys and ravines where, thanks to the easy workability of calcarenite, it has been possible to obtain an ideal habitat for human life, in balance with Nature. Natural caves, frequented since the Palaeolithic period and then abandoned in the classical age, began to be populated since the early Middle Ages by religious communities of Italo-Greek and Benedictine monks, as well as by groups of farmers and shepherds. The succession of barbarian invasions and the Longobard and Arab occupation also pushed the inhabitants to prefer the rock settlement, difficult to identify between the natural conformation of the rocks. The medieval settlements took the form of real rural agglomerations.
Among the various territories affected by the settlements and rock churches in the Middle Ages, the Ionic-Tarantine arch, characterized by deep canyons, locally called gravine, is the most representative to know the so-called rock civilization.
Mottola and Massafra are the two places where the phenomenon is impressive, without a doubt, but Laterza and the nearby and Castellaneta can also boast the presence of numerous cave settlements in their respective ravines.
Not far away the same ravines of Matera and Gravina in Puglia, which have the same characteristics as the sisters of the province of Taranto (and to a lesser extent many other areas of Puglia) the phenomenon is a large-scale one and especially in the case of Matera it was established a park to protect the 150 rock churches so far reviewed.
For the vastness of the phenomenon, therefore, the visit to the rock churches of Tarantino is concentrated only in Mottola and Massafra but can be extended to other sites if required. To crown this spectacular itinerary there is the Greek Taranto with the M.A.R.T.A. museum and the old city.
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Traditional chronology assigns the date of the foundation of Taranto to 706 BC. The sources handed down by the historical Eusebius of Caesarea speak of the transfer of some Spartan colonists to this area for expansion or commercial reasons. These, destroying the indigenous settlement and founding their own, brought the civilization and traditions of Greece.
The social structure of the colony developed over time a real aristocratic culture, whose wealth probably came from the exploitation of the resources of the fertile surrounding area, which was populated and defended by a series of "phrouria", small fortified centers in a strategic position.
Among the ravines flowing toward the Gulf of Taranto, Laterza is the most spectacular. Undoubtedly the Gravina di Laterza is one of the largest canyons in Europe and it is the most impressive expression of a particular territory known as "Gravine dell'Arco Jonico" (Ravines of the Jonic Arch), which extends from Gravina in Puglia to Grottaglie. Dozens are the ravines arranged in a fan shape around the Gulf of Taranto, each of them different in size and morphology.
Suspended between faith and legends, ravines and slightly incised karst valleys, Massafra guards its oldest treasures in the rock. For the vastness and beauty of its cave complexes, Massafra is also called the "Thebaid of Italy". Located in the hinterland north of Taranto, in fact, the city is furrowed by a series of suggestive ravines and valleys of karst origin. The Gravina of San Marco in particular divides the town into two parts connected by bridges and the crossings of them offer enchanting sceneries. Pagan rites and religious cults left their marks over centuries and Massafra shows them in its own territory through one of the largest and most fascinating rock complexes unfolding on the eastern side of San Marco’s Gravina where the rupestrian church of Santa Marina is located , and on the western one where the cave church of Sant'Antonio Abate is set.
Mottola is a pretty town overlooking the Ionian Sea from the top of the edge of the Murgia plateau. In fact, with its 387mt above sea level, from the roundabout of Mottola, the panoramic area, you can embrace the whole Gulf of Taranto with your eyes. In some days, clear and windy you can even see the mountains of Calabria, giving a breathtaking scenery thanks to the sea-mountains combination.
Please do not forget to read the Terms & Conditions before booking. The reservation is valid after the payment of the advance or the full amount.
For the same tour there are two prices based on the number of people. For groups of more than 8 people, please contact us.
After deciding which excursion you want to do, click on the booking button that will open a partially pre-filled e-mail. You must indicate the tour, the date, the number of participants and your special requests. Probably it will take more than one e-mail to define the excursion but as soon as you receive our confirmation email, you can make the payment (in advance or in full).
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The balance can be paid either with Paypal, Wise and XE or at the latest, at the start of the tour by credit card or cash (euro).
Not much remains of the ancient Spartan colony that dominated the Great-Greek world and that challenged Rome. However many are the activities that Taranto can offer. Its cathedral is considered the largest in Puglia but also the castle, the museums MARTA and Bellacicco are worth a visit. Along the coast of the Mar Piccolo, the Battendieri convent is a pleasant surprise for those who think that Taranto is mainly represented by its steel factory. To crown the visit of the Ionian capital there are cruises of one or two hours with or without tasting (there are several options).
As an alternative to Taranto, Mottola and Massafra with their ravines, churches and rocky villages reveal to the visitor the world of rock civilization that flourished during the Middle Ages and that along the Ionian-Taranto arch has left traces in an impressive way. Laterza, Ginosa and Castellaneta also have the same attractions as Mottola and Massafra and above all Laterza is characterized by the most beautiful ravine of the Ionian-Taranto arch. The answer to this cultural and landscape richness was the formation of the Gravine Park. The wealth of sites is made clear by consulting the map. The choice of various sites for a day tour is left to your imagination and personal interests.
| 1-3 people | 4-7 people | ||||
| Full Price | Down Payment | Balance | Full Price | Down Payment | Balance |
| 600 € | 180 € | 420 € | 840 € | 252 € | 588 € |
Not much remains of the ancient Spartan colony that dominated the Great-Greek world and that challenged Rome. However many are the activities that Taranto can offer. Its cathedral is considered the largest in Puglia but also the castle, the museums MARTA and Bellacicco are worth a visit. Along the coast of the Mar Piccolo, the Battendieri convent is a pleasant surprise for those who think that Taranto is mainly represented by its steel factory. To crown the visit of the Ionian capital there are cruises of one or two hours with or without tasting (there are several options).
As an alternative to Taranto, Mottola and Massafra with their ravines, churches and rocky villages reveal to the visitor the world of rock civilization that flourished during the Middle Ages and that along the Ionian-Taranto arch has left traces in an impressive way. Laterza, Ginosa and Castellaneta also have the same attractions as Mottola and Massafra and above all Laterza is characterized by the most beautiful ravine of the Ionian-Taranto arch. The answer to this cultural and landscape richness was the formation of the Gravine Park. The wealth of sites is made clear by consulting the map. The combination of the various sites for a two-day tour allows a less narrow and very interesting choice.
| 1-3 people | 4-7 people | ||||
| Full Price | Down Payment | Balance | Full Price | Down Payment | Balance |
| 960 € | 288 € | 672 € | 1344 € | 403 € | 941 € |
Not much remains of the ancient Spartan colony that dominated the Great-Greek world and that challenged Rome. However many are the activities that Taranto can offer. Its cathedral is considered the largest in Puglia but also the castle, the museums MARTA and Bellacicco are worth a visit. Along the coast of the Mar Piccolo, the Battendieri convent is a pleasant surprise for those who think that Taranto is mainly represented by its steel factory. To crown the visit of the Ionian capital there are cruises of one or two hours with or without tasting (there are several options).
As an alternative to Taranto, Mottola and Massafra with their ravines, churches and rocky villages reveal to the visitor the world of rock civilization that flourished during the Middle Ages and that along the Ionian-Taranto arch has left traces in an impressive way. Laterza, Ginosa and Castellaneta also have the same attractions as Mottola and Massafra and above all Laterza is characterized by the most beautiful ravine of the Ionian-Taranto arch. The answer to this cultural and landscape richness was the formation of the Gravine Park. The wealth of sites is made clear by consulting the map. The three-day excursion allows you to visit all the sites in the proposed itinerary.
| 1-3 people | 4-7 people | ||||
| Full Price | Down Payment | Balance | Full Price | Down Payment | Balance |
| 1260 € | 378 € | 882 € | 1764 € | 529 € | 1235 € |
