Murgia, Limestone plateau in Puglia and Basilicata, Italy
Murgia is a limestone plateau in Puglia and Basilicata that stretches between the Adriatic coast and the Bradano river. The terrain rolls in gentle waves and is cut by deep gorges where wild thyme and holm oaks grow.
Herders drove their flocks across these paths since the Bronze Age and built dry stone walls that still mark the fields today. In medieval times fortified farms appeared to protect against raiders and invaders.
The name comes from the Latin word for darkness, referring to the dense scrub that once covered the hills. Today sheep graze across open land while farmers tend almond trees and olive groves.
Most villages sit on hilltops and are reached by winding country roads that pass through open fields. Visitors planning to see several places should allow time for the drive and start early in the morning.
Beneath the ground lie hundreds of caves and underground streams that collect rainwater and let it seep through the porous rock. Some grottoes contain rock paintings from the Stone Age showing animals and hunting scenes.
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