Walk the Way from Bari to Matera

Bari

Welcome to Puglia and its fascinating capital.
Immersed in the sea breeze, the atmosphere here is full of life! Strolling along the beautiful streets of the elegant Murattiano district, you can see the great architecture of the Teatro Petruzzelli and the Teatro Margherita built on the sea, while Piazza del Ferrarese introduces us to the characteristic old town. "Bari vecchia" is a shiny, lively labyrinth where you can lose yourself in sensations and smells, such as that of the focaccia, or fresh homemade pasta by lively housewives. And on our steps, from the Swabian Castle to the Cathedral, we will arrive in front of the imposing Basilica of San Nicola, a symbol of Christianity that unites West and East and houses the remains of the saint of Myra.

From Cassano delle Murge to Santeramo in Colle

22km, +303m -160m

Today's stage of the Way from Bari to Matera continues to climb in altitude, along the Murge plateau.
Once out of Cassano, our route will see us walking this time through a landscape largely dominated by woods. The Forest of Mesola SCI is part of an unexpectedly green Puglia, covered with holm oaks and downy oaks, among which sometimes splendid centuries-old specimens stand out. But this is a varied territory, where ancient oak forests alternate with fields of wheat, vines and olives, surrounded by dry stone walls and farmhouses, the imprint of man for centuries. And in spring the blossoms light up the area with brilliant colours.
This leads to Santeramo in Colle, on the highest step of the Murgia plateau, where streets and squares come alive in the evening with people and where the scent of meat cooked in the steakhouses, the typical "ready-made stoves", captures the senses.

To find out more, enjoy a little journey through the food and wine experiences of Puglia with this short reading!

From Altamura to Gravina in Puglia

20km, +145m -272m

How can you not start the day with a taste of the delicious Nun's Tits? Do not think bad! It is a historical sweet of the Altamura pastry, and it will give us the right charge to face the fourth stage of the Camino Materano in group.
We start where we left off, strolling through the beautiful historic centre of Altamura before taking the road into the countryside. Leaving the city in a southerly direction, we come to one of the most important historical routes in Puglia: the Via Appia, which in ancient times connected Rome to the port of Brindisi on the Adriatic Sea. Here on the Murgia plateau the landscape that accompanies us is the sweet one of the hills planted with wheat, oats and cicerchie (chickling peas).
After passing a small wood we will make our entrance to Gravina in Puglia, where we will have dinner and spend the night. Heir to the ancient "Sidion", a Peucetian and later Roman city, Gravina is a charming village with the warm colors of calcarenite, the stone of the canyon in which the city is excavated and built.

Matera

 The journey ends in the enchanting City of the Sassi, to be discovered in our blog, whose thousand-year history is revealed with incredible beauty step by step.
So off along the many pottery shops and wood-fired ovens that bake excellent PGI semolina bread in the typical cornetto shape, perhaps accompanied by cruschi peppers and pezzente salami for a final aperitif.


Tour programme variations
Due to organizational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the holiday.