Guide to the Alta Murgia National Park: From Wild Steppes to Mysterious Castles.
Established in 2004, the Alta Murgia National Park is a protected natural area of extraordinary beauty located in Puglia, straddling the provinces of Bari and Barletta-Andria-Trani. Stretching from the Adriatic coast to the mountains of Basilicata, this park holds a unique ecological distinction: it is, in fact, the last remaining example of pristine Mediterranean steppe in Italy.
If you’re looking for an itinerary that combines wild landscapes, biodiversity, and a millennia-old historical heritage, the Alta Murgia will captivate you from the very first glance.
A botanical mosaic of pastures and wild orchids
The landscape of the Alta Murgia offers a surprising alternative to the classic images of coastal Puglia. Here, karst rock emerges amid picturesque scenery, where the vegetation has adapted perfectly to the climate:
- Forests and open plains: Dense forests alternate with vast steppe-like expanses and barren pastures covered with moss and lichen, where cypress and Scots pine trees stand out.
- Precious Blooms: The undergrowth is a true paradise for botany lovers, abounding with fragrant dog roses and stunning wild orchids that bring color to the ground in the spring.
- Flavors of the Land: The region is also rich in edible plants and shrubs that grow wild, such as wild asparagus, walnut trees, fig trees, and blackberry bushes.
Fauna: The Realm of the Lesser Kestrel
The park’s vast, unspoiled expanse provides a safe haven for numerous native animal species, both land and bird.
- The Lesser Kestrel: It is the undisputed king of the skies over the Murgia, and, due to its ecological importance, it has been chosen as the park’s official symbol.
- Mammals of the Area: Agile mammals such as foxes, badgers, weasels, stone martens, porcupines, hares, squirrels, and fallow deer roam among the dry-stone walls and grasslands.
- Night Birds and Birds of Prey: The woods are home to thrushes, blackbirds, and robins, while at night the skies become the hunting grounds of fascinating nocturnal birds of prey such as barn owls, little owls, and tawny owls.
Stone Architecture: Farmhouses, Jazzi, and Transhumance
The Alta Murgia also tells the centuries-old story of humankind and its pastoral economy. As you walk through the park’s lush greenery, it’s impossible not to notice the typical buildings made of local stone:
- The Jazzi: Ancient stone enclosures and shelters that, during the centuries of transhumance, provided protection and shelter for the vast flocks of sheep.
- The Fortified Farmhouses: Imposing and majestic, some built like actual castles, these large farmsteads have been the lifeblood of Apulia’s rural economy since the 15th century.
Castel del Monte: Frederick II’s Jewel
The most famous and spectacular attraction in the Alta Murgia National Park is undoubtedly Castel del Monte. This extraordinary octagonal castle, built in the 13th century by Emperor Frederick II of Swabia (and originally used as a hunting lodge), overlooks the plateau from the top of a hill.
Now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the castle is shrouded in mystery and is a must-see for anyone visiting Puglia.
