Alta Murgia Park

Access

The Park can be reached from the main Apulian cities: from Bari via the state road to Altamura or Gravina, and from Andria along the provincial road . The nearest railway stations are in Altamura and Spinazzola. There are public bus services operated by Ferrovie Appulo Lucane and regional interurban lines.

Introduction

The Alta Murgia National Park, established in 2004, covers approximately 68,000 hectares in the heart of Apulia, distributed between the provinces of Bari and Barletta-Andria-Trani. It includes the territories of thirteen municipalities, including Altamura, Andria, Gravina in Puglia, Corato and Ruvo di Puglia. It represents one of Italy's largest nature parks and protects the main steppe area of the peninsula, a unique environment where the millenary presence of man integrates with an archaic and rugged nature. Since 2024, the Park has also been recognised as a UNESCO World Geopark, the twelfth in Italy, thanks to its exceptional geological and landscape heritage.

Description

The Murgia plateau, between 300 and 680 metres above sea level, is a karstic system dominated by limestone undulations, dolines, sinkholes and blades, where surface water is scarce but deep underground aquifers develop. The geology of the area consists mainly of cretaceous platform limestone and more recent detrital deposits; the absence of permanent watercourses has favoured the formation of a barren and bright landscape, punctuated by pastures and dense networks of dry stone walls. Among the most representative habitats are the dry grassland meadows of the Festuco-Brometalia and the Mediterranean steppes of the Thero-Brachypodietea, both designated as priority habitats under the Habitats Directive.
In spite of its harsh appearance, the park is a reservoir of biodiversity. The vegetation, dominated by grasses and xerophilous plants, is enriched in the spring by asphodel blooms, brooms and over thirty species of wild orchids, including the extremely rare Ophrys murgiana. There are also patches of woods of downy oak, strawberry tree and Vallonea oak. The fauna includes more than 130 species of vertebrates, including the park's symbol, the kestrel (Falco naumanni), which nests in colonies in the Altamura and Gravina ravines. It is also home to the yellow-bellied toad, the Italian newt and the Apennine wolf, which has returned to the area in recent decades.
The Alta Murgia area is also rich in prehistoric and historical evidence. In the cavities of the Pulo di Altamura, a large karst sinkhole more than ninety metres deep, the famous skeleton of the Altamura Man, dating back more than 130,000 years, was found. Alongside these remains, the rural landscape preserves a dense network of stone farms, jazzi for transhumance, small rock churches and specchie, tangible signs of the agro-pastoral civilisation that has shaped the Murgia for centuries. Inside the park there is also Castel del Monte, a 13th century masterpiece of Frederick's and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, a symbol of the harmonious synthesis between architecture and nature.
The park is an ideal destination for excursions on foot, by bicycle or on horseback, thanks to an expanding network of paths and rural roads. The Park Authority promotes nature and cultural itineraries, such as the 'Jazzi e Masserie', 'Gravine e Dolomie', and the Alta Via della Murgia. The presence of wildlife observatories and museums, including the National Archaeological Museum of Altamura and the 'Lamalunga' Centre, allows for in-depth study of the naturalistic and anthropological aspects of the territory. Since 2025, scientific initiatives such as the CNR-IAA's MOIRA project have been contributing to ecological monitoring and fire prevention, strengthening the park's role as a laboratory for environmental sustainability.

Information

Area: 68.077 ha
Minimum/maximum altitude: 300 m - 680 m
Maximum elevation: Monte Caccia (680 m)
Municipalities concerned: Altamura, Andria, Bitonto, Cassano Murge, Corato, Gravina in Puglia, Grumo Appula, Minervino Murge, Poggiorsini, Ruvo di Puglia, Santeramo in Colle, Spinazzola, Toritto
Year of institution: 2004
Managing body: Alta Murgia National Park Authority
Official website: www.parcoaltamurgia.i