Castles and ravines of the Alta Murgia
From Bari’s coast of Romanesque cathedrals up to Frederick II’s octagonal castle, a giant sinkhole and the cave town of Gravina.
- Distance
- 147 km (91 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 02 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 7
- Countries
- Italy
- Updated
- September 12, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 147 km (91 mi) with 7 stops, from Bari to Gravina aqueduct bridge. About 2 h 02 min of driving in total.
Route description
North of Bari the coast is lined with old harbour towns, each with a cathedral by the water. Molfetta’s Duomo Vecchio stands on the harbour, and Trani’s cathedral rises alone on a stone platform above the sea.
Turn inland past Andria towards Castel del Monte, visible for miles on its hilltop. Cars and motorhomes park at the foot of the hill; from there a shuttle bus or a short walk leads up to the castle.
The road then crosses the Alta Murgia National Park, a stony upland of dry-stone walls, farms and sheep. The Pulo di Altamura sinkhole lies off a country road north of the town; Altamura itself is known for its bread and for the Neanderthal skeleton found nearby, presented in a visitor centre.
End in Gravina in Puglia, where the old town tops a ravine full of cave churches and the aqueduct bridge crosses to the far side. Spring and autumn are ideal; the plateau is hot and shadeless in midsummer.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Bari
Italy - 231 km
Molfetta
Italy - 322 km
Trani Cathedral
HistoryTrani, ItalyA pale Romanesque cathedral standing alone on the edge of the sea, with a tall open-arched bell tower. The old harbour next to it is lovely at sunset.
- 432 km
Castel del Monte
HistoryAndria, ItalyEmperor Frederick II’s mysterious octagonal castle on a hilltop in the Murgia, a UNESCO site. Park at the foot of the hill and take the shuttle or walk up.
- 539 km
Pulo di Altamura
NatureAltamura, ItalyA huge karst sinkhole about half a kilometre across in the stony Alta Murgia plateau. A viewpoint on the rim is reached by a country road.
- 610 km
Altamura
Italy - 714 km
Gravina aqueduct bridge
ViewsGravina in Puglia, ItalyA stone bridge spanning the ravine below Gravina’s old town, which is honeycombed with cave churches. Walk across to the far side for the classic view of the town.
