Both of them are clinged onto hills (Murgia) with at bottom the Bradano river.
Gravina presents an immense cultural heritage.
Talking about rocky churches, Gravina has 30 of them.
I strongly wish to visit this Apulian town, so I call the tourist office (IAT) which re-directs me to the cultural association Benedetto XIII.
The association provides a tourist guide which will lead us to visit three rocky churches: Chiesa di St. Maria della Stella, Chiesa di St. Basilio, and eventually, chiesa di St. Michele.
We agree with the guide to catch up at 11 by the Purgatorio church.
We arrive in Gravina at 10.50, just in time for a quick coffea.
It's with me Lucia, with another couple, friends of us, Francesco and Angelica.
At 11 we catch up with our guide, Giuseppe is his name.
After having exchanged pleasantries, I ask Giuseppe whether foreigner tourists have come to tour in Gravina.
"Yes, mainly Germans, followed by French and Austrians." He replies.
We cross the eighteenth-century bridge which link the antique part of Gravina to the most recent one.
The purpose of the bridge is to carry water as well.
It was a crucial infrastructure to the development of the town.
Giuseppe conducts us to see the Chiesa di Santa Maria della Stella.
This church was originally meant to be a Synagogue.
In Gravina used to live peacefully Muslims, Jews and Catholics.
Santa Maria della Stella is located within a complex of rooms, among which we find a heathen cave where the fertility rite was practiced.
Indeed, we see stuck on the wall the Demeter's mask. Beside that, there is an additional statue which symbolizes a pregnant woman.
Indeed, we see stuck on the wall the Demeter's mask. Beside that, there is an additional statue which symbolizes a pregnant woman.
"Human beings have lived in these caves till the end of the Neolithic included. After that, people have relocated on the top of the hill called Botromagno." Giuseppe points out.
We are told that Gravina (Botromagno) and Gioia del Colle (Monte Sarnace) represent so far the two main locations of Peuceti, a pre-roman population with Illiric roots which inhabited the center of Apulia.
We move on. This time is the round of the church of San Basilio, located underneath a road.
Unfortunately, the frescos have disappered due to water coming down the street.
We get out the church not before having signed the guestbook.
While walking towards the next church, we pass by the fondazione Pomarici Santomasi, which will definitely be my next destination for a future visit here in Gravina.
Giuseppe precedes us to go to see the St. Michele church, which originally was a cathedral, the first cathedral of Gravina.
Let me say that this church is outstanding.
If you are fond of such art, you'd be delighted to be here.
The church is wide.
It still preserves frescos which portray the Christ Pantocrator.
I realize just nearby the church an impressive ossuary, which is the result of the Saracen conquest of Gravina which took place in 999 A.C.
I'm lost in meditation in this suggestive location.
It's almost 1.30. It's lunch time.
We have to go back to Altamura where Lucia lives.
Therefore, we come back to the meeting point with our guide.
We give him a donation for his association, shake hands and eventually leave.
However, I have the feeling that I will come back to Gravina pretty soon: there is still a lot which is worth to be admired.
It still preserves frescos which portray the Christ Pantocrator.
I realize just nearby the church an impressive ossuary, which is the result of the Saracen conquest of Gravina which took place in 999 A.C.
I'm lost in meditation in this suggestive location.
It's almost 1.30. It's lunch time.
We have to go back to Altamura where Lucia lives.
Therefore, we come back to the meeting point with our guide.
We give him a donation for his association, shake hands and eventually leave.
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