# Castles and ravines of the Alta Murgia

> 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.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b1-alta-murgia/

**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. 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 |
| Route | Bari → Gravina aqueduct bridge |
| Countries | Italy |
| Updated | September 12, 2026 |

## 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

1. **Bari** (Italy)
2. **Molfetta** (Italy)
3. **Trani Cathedral** (Trani, Italy): A 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.
4. **Castel del Monte** (Andria, Italy): Emperor 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.
5. **Pulo di Altamura** (Altamura, Italy): A 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.
6. **Altamura** (Italy)
7. **Gravina aqueduct bridge** (Gravina in Puglia, Italy): A 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.