NephroCare - Castellaneta

Castellaneta and the gulf of Taranto

Castellaneta, in the heart of the Gravine Regional Park, is a charming historic village in whose pine forest of Bosco Pineto, follows the maritime hamlet of Castellaneta Marina, a well-known tourist destination overlooking the Ionian Sea with its crystalline sea and beaches of fine sand. The medieval old town is full of prestigious buildings such as the Baroque style Cathedral of San Nicola, the church of San Domenico and that of San Michele, the 18th century Bishop's Palace, the Baronial Palace, the Catalan Palace and the Sarapo Palace. Finally, to grasp the true essence of a land so rich in history and culture, let yourself be conquered by the unique charm of the historic farms that dot the surroundings of Castellaneta.

Our NephroCare Castellaneta unit, opened 6 days a week from Monday to Saturday on two shifts starting at h. 08:00 and at h 14:00, is available to accept any travelling patient with the standardized care and treatment quality provided by our network of clinics.

Activities & Sights

Underground Castellaneta

Below the city of Castellaneta a dense network of tunnels and secret passages lets visitors enter a dark and mysterious world buried by hundreds of years of history. Under the modern city lies a world made up of houses, churches, cellars and woodsheds, air-raid shelters to withstand long sieges, hiding places for smugglers and brigands of the past. Do not miss a guided tour in the bowels of the earth, under the historic centre of Castellaneta, to discover apogee sites such as the wine cellars of the Marquis Giovinazzi, the undergrounds of Palazzo Viscardi, the apogee oil mill with the Great Mill in stone and the labyrinth of Parabita, once the scene of raids and armed clashes.

The Great Gravina of Castellaneta

Typical karst morphology of the Murgia, the Gravina di Castellaneta or Gravina Grande is one of the most spectacular in the region, extending, similar to a canyon for kilometres between bends and arid landscapes. For centuries the region has been a refuge for Byzantine monks whose rock churches are still preserved today with notable evidence of the various historical archaeological settlements surrounded by an immense diversification of fauna and flora species.

Castellaneta Marina and Marina di Ginosa, blue flags of the Gulf of Taranto

Castellaneta Marina is a great tourist destination characterized by long beaches of light and fine sand surrounded by a verdant pine forest. Not far away and definitely worth a visit are the famous Termitosa Beach and Lido Trocadero with their clear and crystalline waters, soft sandy beaches, embraced by a lush pine forests. Also Marina di Ginosa is the ideal place to relax letting yourself be caressed by the light sea breeze. The presence of establishments equipped for sustainable tourism with access to the sea designed for people with disabilities should be noted. The area is also famous for sightings of schools of dolphins.

Massafra, the Thebaid of Italy

Perched majestically on a rocky spur of the Murgia of Taranto, Massafra rises, an enchanting medieval village where time, marked by the Clock Tower, seems to stand still.

Let yourself be conquered by the narrow alleys of the centre, by the Medieval Castle, symbol and pride of the city , from the Cathedral and the Mother Church. A must is the famous Gravina di Madonna della Scala, a rich wildlife and botanical reserve which houses the Neolithic rock village of Madonna della Scala, the Cyclops Cave and the Sanctuary accessible via an imposing staircase wrapped in silence and peace.

Matera, the city of the Sassi

World Heritage Site, Matera is one of the most fascinating and evocative pages of Italian history ever written. As in a huge nativity scene set along the slopes of the mountain and carved into the tuff, the city harmoniously envelops the mountain and the houses carved in the monochrome stone of the Sasso Caveoso and the Sasso Barisano. Even the most ancient houses, similar to caves with a bare appearance, actually contain comfortable environments within them.

The oldest Matera, that of the Civita district, houses the Romanesque Cathedral built on the acropolis and inside which the Byzantine Madonna "Della Bruna" dominates.

Extending over an immense area between Matera and Montescaglioso, do not miss a visit to the Natural Historical Archaeological Park of Murgia and the Rock Churches in search of the numerous traces dug into the tuff of the presence of man since prehistoric times. Of great interest are the Rock Churches excavated in the Sassi including that of Santa Maria de Idris, those of San Pietro Caveoso from which to enjoy a unique view of the Gravina and of Santa Lucia alle Malve, the first Benedictine monastic settlement.

Alberobello, the city of Trulli

One of the most popular locations in Puglia, whose architectural uniqueness has earned it the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site and the election to one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Famous all over the world thanks to its trulli, a conical dry-stone construction characteristic of the Valle d'Itria dating back to the 14th century.

Alberobello is a fairy-tale town with the Church of Sant'Antonio da Padua standing out on the hill. United on the top but with entrances on different roads, the Siamese trulli house includes numerous shops of typical food and wine products. To admire a breath-taking landscape, in Piazza Gian Girolamo D’Acquaviva D’Aragona, a stop at the Belvedere terrace or Terrazza Santa Lucia is not to be missed.

On the contrary, to breathe the atmosphere of the old medieval village and encounter the famous Trullo Sovrano museum, a visit to the Aia Piccola district is highly recommended. Finally, Casa Pezzolla is a museum featuring fifteen communicating trulli, to learn about the history and culture of the area through peasant period objects. For the more curious, we recommend a delicious stop in one of the trullo-restaurants to taste the delicious recipes based on turnip tops.

Taranto, the city of the two seas

The important colony of Magna Graecia, surrounded by the Great Sea and the Small Sea, has been the undisputed protagonist of past history thanks to its strategic position. Its ancient testimonies, including the famous "Ori di Taranto," are kept at the MArTA, Museum National Archaeological Museum housed inside the ancient convent of the Alcantarini Friars. Separated by a swing bridge that marks the border between the ancient nineteenth-century village and the new Taranto. At the end of the city, the imposing Aragonese Castle rises on an islet in the middle of the sea. On the streets and alleys of the centre there are incredible palaces of the past, like the churches of San Cataldo or San Domenico, built on the remains of a Greek. The green lung of the city, the Peripato Gardens, once owned by the Beaumont family, includes five hectares of park with steps, slides and an open-air theatre where important cultural and film events are organized in summer. You should also not miss a visit to the Necropolis which dates back to the Greco-Roman era of which the centre is characterized.

Finally, treat yourself with a visit to the Cheradi islands of San Pietro and Paolo aboard a comfortable boat to admire the passage of dolphins and visit the Fort of Laclos, an ancient Napoleonic fort.

Accommodation

Masserie in the moonlight

Castellaneta, in the Terra delle Gravine Natural Park, offers numerous accommodation facilities capable of satisfying every kind of desire, need and pocket: from classic family-run hotels, to residences, from B & Bs to equipped campsites and tourist villages for families. There are also numerous Masserie della Gravina, elegant and exclusive rural hotels built in ancient peasant residences set on the edge of majestic rocky walls immersed in the Mediterranean scrub and in the silence of the Apulian countryside. Finally, the ideal solution for young people or families are the holiday homes and the wonderful villas with swimming pool overlooking the golden beaches of Marina di Castellaneta.

Culinary & Culture

Specialties on the notes of Pizzica

A cuisine based on ancient flavours, respect for seasonal products, and a mix of dishes from the hinterland and the coast. One example is "acquasale”, which used to be a dish of fishermen and today is a tasty appetizer consisting of toasted bread seasoned with onion, salt , tomatoes and oregano. Another example is “bombette”, grilled capocollo rolls, the undisputed queen of street food. Among the traditional fresh pasta, the orecchiette with turnip tops, cavatelli with broccoli or mushrooms, pasta tria and frizzuli dishes made with boiled chickpeas and legumes are famous. With a bitter note there are dishes based on lampascione, vegetables marinated in vinegar or cooked in a pan in delicious omelettes.

Among the cheeses, the Pallone is a product originating from the Gravina and is to be consumed to fill Altamura PDO bread and "pucce". Another specialty strongly linked to the territory is the "ciallèd", a simple dish of the peasant tradition revisited in a modern version in the famous "friselle". In addition, there are "Gnumm’rèdd", tasty flavoured sausages to be enjoyed accompanied with the typical "stuffed focaccia" and taralli, inevitable on every table. And to conclude with a flourish, it is impossible not to be tempted by the "falle", delicious shortbread cakes, delicacies cooked on the occasion of the feast of St. Joseph and by the "pasticciotti" of shortcrust pastry filled with custard.

In July, under starry skies and enveloped by the mellow notes of the "pizzica", the eagerly awaited food and wine event "Masseria sotto le stelle" is worth mentioning, in which Castellaneta offers a modern reinterpretation of the typical dishes of the Apulian tradition.