Grotta del Trullo

Grotta del Trulli - Grotta di Putignano


Useful Information

Location: In Putignano. At the city limits towards Turi/Bari, SS 172. Turn right, very narrow entry with railroad tracks crossing.
Open: JAN to MAY daily 10-12:30, 14:30-17.
JUN to SEP daily 9-12:30, 14:30-18:30.
OCT to DEC daily 10-12:30, 14:30-17.
[2007]
Fee: Adults EUR 4, Children EUR 2. [2007]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: T=20 °C.
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Grotta del Trullo, Parco grotte, SS 172 per Turi, 70017 Putignano, Bari, Tel: +39-0080-4912113, Tel: +39-080-4111903, Fax: +39-0080-4912113. E-mail: contact
Gruppo Ricerche Carsiche, 70017 Putignano (BA) - S.S. 172 Turi-Putignano, Km 1, Tel: +39-0080-4912113. E-mail: contact
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

29-JUN-1931 discovered by accident.
21-JUN-1935 opened to the public.
JAN-1938 exploration by Franco Anelli.

Description

The Grotta del Trullo is a very small cave, close to the most visited cave of Italy, the ShowcaveGrotta di Castellana. This is the reason, why it is so unknown, tourists go to the big cave which is very well advertised.

But this cave is really worth a visit, as it is less crowded and the entrance is unique: The building is a so called trullo, a house built of rocks without mortar. The plates of limestone are piled in an unique manner, with a pointed roof, which makes the building look like a beehive. Typically, the trulli are painted in white.

The cave is managed by the Gruppo Richerche Carsiche Putignano. They renovated the paths and light lately and installed a new emergency exit.

Nearby are two more caves, rather small but of some historic importance. There is S. Michele a Monte Laureto, 3 km away on the road towards Noci. It is a cave church which contains frescoes from the 4th and 5th century. On the altar stands the statue Archangel Michael, made by Stefano da Putignano in the 16th century. Another small cave is called Madonna delle Grazie. Located below an antique farmhouse in a little forest, this small cave church contains several fresoes with the mother with the child in the center.