The
Itria Valley, Valle d'Itria, is the Valley of the trulli
and the masserie. The Itria Valley is divided, in terms
of territory, between Bari, Brindisi, and Taranto,
and lies in a favourable position between Alberobello,
Ostuni, Cisternino, Martina Franca, Locorotondo and
Ceglie Messapica.
One of the most touristic attractive
areas of Puglia and one of the most beautiful landscapes
all over the
region is the wonderful Valle d’Itria, which
is covered with "Trulli" and white "Masserie",
the supreme expression of peasant architecture.
The Valley landscape is of vineyards and olive groves,
dry-stone walled fields are characteristic of all the
Valley.
Valle d’Itria landscape is embellished by two
ancient churches: San Donato church and the Providence
one. The last one is a little church of 1561 (at that
time it was called “Santo Antonio seu de Padua”),
that was restored thanks to the parishioners contribution
and it was then consecrated to Santa Maria della Provvidenza
in the end of the XVII cent.
Alberobello: Puglia's has the unique Trulli, which
can be found in abundance in Alberebello. This rural
architecture has made the town of Alberobello a UNESCO
World Heritage site.
Ostuni is a white town of great beauty, set on a hilltop
overlooking and commanding the plain below. For your
enjoyment, the area hosts a number of close amenities,
including golf courses, an aqua park, scuba diving,
snorkelling, horse riding, markets, go-karting, fishing,
sailing and walking facilities.
Cisternino: Cisternino is situated in the land of
the trulli which is visited every year by many tourists.
Cisternino offers a sun-drenched charm and stands on
a small hill from where the eye sweeps over both Martina
Franca and the Itria valley.
Martina Franca: Very well known for its baroque and
rococo buildings and productions of good strong white
wine. Place to see: Santo Stefano gate, the Ducal Palace,
Church of St. Martino and Corso Cavour with some of
its most famous baroque palaces.
Locorotondo appears on the top of a round hill, as
a large cluster of white houses dominated by a tall
church. Inside the walls surrounding the centro storico,
and breached only in a few places is a fascinating
and beautiful warren of narrow streets and alleyways,
whitewashed houses, arches, and balconies full of colourful
flowers.
The town of Ceglie Messapica was
founded by the Cretans. The oldest part of the town,was
on top of a hill right
where the Ognissanti "piazza" (square) is
now. On the side of the hill some areas have been discovered
as being old burial sites. The castle built in the
XIth century has an older part in the form of the square
tower, built befor the rest of the castle was. in the
area surrounding Ceglie Messapica there are the famouse
limestone caves of Montevicoli, along wiht many beautiful "Masserie" (large
stone farmhouses).