Cassano delle Murge, Italian comune
Cassano delle Murge is a small town on the Altopiano delle Murge plateau in the Bari region with medieval towers, narrow stone streets, and close-built houses. The settlement is surrounded by forests, including the artificially planted Mercadante forest, and contains important caves such as Grotta della Madonna with a 14th-century wooden cross carved by local artist Paolo da Cassano.
The name Cassano first appeared in documents around the 13th century, deriving from the Latin name Cassius. The town experienced several rulers including Normans, Swabians, French, Spanish, and Austrians before becoming part of Italy in 1861, with towers from the 11th century still standing as reminders of medieval defense.
Cassano remains deeply rooted in farming and pastoral traditions that shape daily life today. During festivals like the Festa di San Crispino, streets fill with music and locals prepare traditional dishes passed down through generations, keeping customs alive and visible to visitors.
The town is easily reached by car or train using main highways or rail connections, with the nearest train station in Acquaviva delle Fonti about 6 kilometers away. The closest major airport is in Bari, from where visitors can easily rent a car or take a bus to reach the settlement.
Local artist Paolo da Cassano carved a stone nativity scene around 1500 directly into the rock of Grotta della Madonna, a rare example of medieval sculpture hidden underground. This concealed masterwork remains one of the region's most overlooked treasures and goes unnoticed by most visitors.
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