Gravina di Puglia

The current church dates back to the 1500s, and was built on an existing church from the 1300s. The 18th-century bell tower and the cloister stand out.

Church of the 15th century, with a rather simple façade. The roof has ribs that partially recall the style of Gothic churches.

It is incomplete, as evidence of this, some arches and columns are visible and introduce the main nave, without apse; next to it there are two furrows used for burial. There were frescoes dedicated to St. Nicholas and St. Peter, subsequently taken and restored at the E. P. Santomasi Foundation.

Today this church is deconsecrated, inside it had an altar and various religious paintings; according to lore, in the 15th century the murder of a heretic bishop took place there. In 1714 Pope Benedict XIII decreed the end of the celebratory functions and their transfer to the Cathedral, due to the dilapidated conditions in which the church was.

It is assumed that this church dates back to the 10th century, it is divided into four naves and has an apse located laterally to the entrance. There are some frescoes that are partially visible today.

The name derives from a tradition according to which a fresco of the Madonna and Child with a star on her forehead was found there. Probably used in pagan times for a fertility deity, it became a Marian shrine in the 16th century. The church, whose original access was from the Rione Piaggio, is presented in a single room with side benches. The church can now be accessed by skirting the ancient city walls and crossing the 18th century Viadotto bridge.

The church was dug out of a single huge tuff rock probably between the 8th and 10th centuries, it also annexes other small caves near the main hall. In one of these, according to legend, the massacre of the inhabitants of Gravina by the Saracens took place during the third incursion in 999, an event remembered by an epigraph placed on the wall of the same cave. The human skulls and bones are visible there, however, more likely belong to corpses moved here during the 17th-18th century.
On May 8th of each year it is the place for the celebration of the Feast of San Michele delle Grotte in memory of the legendary apparition of San Michele in a cave of Monte Sant'Angelo. On this occasion, the inhabitants of the neighborhood decorate the streets with the so-called "balloni".

This rock church featured some beautiful late 13th-century frescoes, but the site has been abandoned and used as a waste dump. In 1956 the Italian State acquired the property by detaching the frescoes which are now exhibited in Palazzo Pomarici. The frescoes present a Pantocrator seated on a throne and figures of Saints. It is available for visits after booking at Gravina's Museum (see "More" section).

These are seven caves worked by man, intercommunicating with each other dating back to the early Christian era due to the presence of an inscription in early Christian Greek and symbols of primitive Christianity. This reminds the visitor of the presence of the first Christians in the land of Gravina to be traced back to the first centuries of Christianity.

It is a double-arched bridge which was erected in 1778 to reach the sanctuary of the Madonna della Stella. It was also used as an aqueduct to supply the city with water. Even today, it connects the two banks of the Gravina stream and is considered as the symbol of the city.

The subsoil of Gravina is full of karst cavities and tunnels used in the past as cellars and shelters. These spaces are now abandoned, having lost their original use, but a local association takes care of tourist development through private visits. Here hides a different perspective on the city and its soul, explained by the guides who will passionately take you on an exploration.

It is a Neo-Gothic style building erected on the city walls. In 1892 a clock from the Curci firm of Naples was placed there with four dials.

Eighteenth-century palace built by the Pellicciari nobles, today belonging to the Barons de Gemmis of Castel Foce. It is a large elegant noble palace with arches and it has two towers to the north and south. It is overlooked by a covered veranda.

Historical mansion with a museum.

Wanted by the Emperor Frederick II, it was built on the top of a hill north of the citadel between 1223 and 1231, it was used mostly for the emperor's hunting activity. The territory included several wooded areas called Guardialto and a lake, now disappeared. The building is rectangular in shape, measuring 29.4 x 58.7 m, in its current state of ruins; it was built with two floors, surrounded by a small courtyard, and was accessed from an entrance called cum porta magna, the long sides included four square towers, of which only the bases remain, and there was also a water tank in the basement which ensured a sufficient supply of water. The ground floor was equipped with various deposits, ovens, kitchens and stables, while the top floor contained a room which housed the sovereign and the men during hunting trips or general meetings of the Roman Curia.

The toponym Capotenda probably refers to an area where people used to camp, as a way station, as Gravina has always been an important area along historic roads. It is characterized by two parts, a wider and flatter one, closer to the Gravina stream, and a narrower and steeper one, with spectacular rocks that hold containment water tanks. In May it is vary easy to spot the Imperial Raven, if you are into birdwatching.

This fountain was inaugurated in 1778 and built by the duke of Gravina, Domenico Amedeo Orsini. It was rebuilt in 1858 due to subsidence in the floor below (since Gravina is full of underground quarries).

The municipal park is one of the meeting points of the city due to the presence of large shady trees. You will see many people walking around at various times in this area. In the middle of it there is also the Monument to the fallen of the Great War.

Located in the vicinity of one of Gravina's entrances. It is a reproduction of a Cola Cola whistle (see "Buy" section)

Born Pietro Francesco Orsini, he was a pope originally from Gravina between 1724 and 1730.

It is the area in which the oldest nucleus of the Gravina civilization originated. The Botromagno Archaeological Site is being studied by prestigious British and Canadian research institutes since 1966. It also is one of the biggest archaeological sites in Southern Italy.

It was the first archaeological site excavated by researchers in Gravina and, being a few steps away from the frescoed cave-church of the Eternal Father, it took its name. In addition to being a necropolis, the Padre Eterno area was also an inhabited area, with places of worship, dating back to the Iron Age. It is likely that there was also an artisan quarter given the discovery of cisterns, pipes, aqueducts, loom weights and furnaces. Today most of the finds are on display in the Museum of the Ettore Pomarici Santomasi Foundation.

The Library is one of the oldest libraries in Puglia, its book heritage has over 11,000 volumes. It was founded in 1686 by Cardinal Vincenzo Maria Orsini. The patrimony was enlarged also thanks to Pope Benedict XIII. The most conspicuous donation is due to Cardinal Francesco Antonio Finy, hence the name of the library.

There is an archaeological section with finds from the site of Botromagno (VII-III century BC), an art gallery with 260 paintings, numismatic collections and ceramics. In one of the rooms of the museum there are the frescoes of the Crypt of San Vito Vecchio detached from the original site and kept there.

The museum collection consists of works of sacred art dating from between the 11th and 20th centuries, arranged in three rooms according to their typology. In the "Sala dei Paramenti" you can admire masterpieces embroidered with Baroque motifs alternating with Renaissance and classical decorations. The "Sala degli argenti" contains chalices and reliquaries from the 15th to the 18th century, including the effigy of St. Filippo Neri. Finally, the picture gallery and parchments room is a treasure trove of precious ancient documents, including the 1091 parchment of Umfrido d'Altavilla, Count of Gravina. Among the paintings, the 17th-century canvas "Sant'Ignazio di Antiochia e Santa Bibiana" by Francesco Fracanzano.

It collects finds that can be dated in a chronological span that includes the 8th century BC up to the 13th century AD.

This theater offers courses, such as acting and stage presence. There is a tiny selection of shows to watch and the atmosphere is cozy. Definitely an experience to try out!

The Regional Fair of San Giorgio is the oldest fair in Italy. There is a document certifying the restoration of the fair, granted by Charles of Anjou dating back to 1294, the fair sees the display of its products by operators in the agriculture, handicraft, food and wine sectors. During the fair days, a medieval historical re-enactment is also organised.

It is Gravina's most important festival. There are lighting compositions to decorate the city centre and also just behind Gravina's fair site an itinerant amusement park will be installed. Near Gravina's city park in Via Orsini there will be different stalls open to the public, with different products for sale.

This is a famous gathering of historical parades and is held in Gravina every year in September. Along with the main event (the parade), in the city center there will be several stalls selling souvenirs. If you are into Middle Age history, this is an event you cannot miss!

Wellness Centre.

From here you can admire the panorama of part of the historic center but above all the Gravina (canyon) and the bridge. Also, it is very impressive at night with the artistic lighting on the rocks.

From this point you can see the other rock environments on the Gravina including the Grotta delle Sette Camere (Cave of the Seven Rooms).