Putignano, Puglia - Featured Image

Putignano, Puglia – Visitor’s Guide

If you’re planning a trip to Italy, Puglia should definitely be on your list. Puglia is known for its beaches and nature reserves, as well as its historic architecture and food. Let’s explore all the attractions and things to see in Putignano, Puglia.

The town of Putignano in Puglia is located in the Bari region. Whenever you are on vacation in these parts of Italy it’s definitely worth visiting this hidden gem.

The History of Putignano, Puglia

The southern Italian region of Puglia offers a plethora of beautiful and tranquil cities, ancient and modern architecture, delicious Mediterranean food, and opportunities for adventure. Putignano, in the province of Bari, is a picturesque town in the middle of rich, extensive agricultural plains. It is a hidden gem and an ‘off-the-beaten-path’ city with about 30,000 people.

The Putignano region of Italy has a rich history of religious architecture and craftsmanship and stunning natural landscapes. Benedictine monks living in the Abbey of Santo Stefano di Monopoli initially owned Putignano, which necessitated peasant families to settle and serve the monks. As the population increased, the area became an agricultural center. Putignano has continually developed to have the necessary infrastructure and is currently one of the leading centers in Southern Bari.

Attractions in Putignano, Puglia

1. Historic Center

Historic Center Putignano
Sailko, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The white-washed historic center of Putignano is circular and on a hill. At the historic center, residents Of Putignano showcase the tools and clothes of ancient peasants. They do this ceremony along the picturesque, winding alleys during the feast of offshoots.

As they display the history, they also challenge each other with short poems and verses in local languages. They believe that these verses chase away evil and guarantee a better future from the gods.

The Historic Centre is mainly the old town in Putignano. Old churches characterize it, like the Santa Maria del Greca and the Chiesa di San Pietro Apostolo. All entrances to the Historical Center have ancient city arches.

2. Putignano Carnival

Putignano Puglia Carnival

Putignano Carnival ranks as one of the three main carnivals of Italy, along with Venice and Viareggio. As the oldest tradition in Italy and Europe dates back to 1394, people wear colorful costumes and a Farinella mask, coupled with motif floats. It helps to remember the arrival of the relics of Saint Stephen from the abbey of Monopoli.

Traditionally, it begins on 26th December and ends one day before Ash Wednesday. Streets are filled with music and with crowds of people. You get to experience the traditional dishes of Putignano and participate in city events and ceremonies.

The two-month-long celebration comes to an end with a magnificent procession of allegorical floats and folk melodies on the last night of the Carnival season.

3. Grotta del Trullo

The Grotta del Trullo is a series of ‘karst’ cavities discovered by chance about 80 years ago. If you tour Grotta del Trullo, you get to reach the different caves through a deep metallic staircase. This cave in Italy was once used as a temple to honor Athena, a goddess.

The columns have intricate bas-reliefs that depict Athena and more than 500 different figures from Greek mythology. The professional guides explain the formation of the stalactites and stalagmites in English and Italian.

The tickets go for 5 €, and campers access rest areas, a parking lot, and an equipped and well-fenced green park. A visit to Grotta del Trullo may last between half an hour to one hour. A well worth attraction in Putignano, Puglia.

4. Chiesa Rettoria Santa Maria La Greca

Some villages may be so small that they don’t even have a proper church, but the one in Santa Maria La Greca is undeniably unique. Built at the beginning of the 13th century, it’s all one cave, with no room for any other type of building.

The Chiesa Rettoria Santa Maria La Grecais is one of the oldest churches in Italy and is a beautiful example of Puglia’s artistic heritage. This church is on a site that dates back to the 12th century.

It is a famous destination for Christian pilgrims in Italy as a Roman Catholic Church. In the Chiesa Retorria Santa Maria la Greca, you see cultural art, including the relic of St. Stephen’s protomartyr, the icon of the Byzantine Madonna, statues, and paintings.

The original structure was a Roman or Byzantine building with a central nave. It got the name Santa Maria la Greca after the wildflowers in these fields. In 1607, an earthquake destroyed most of the church. The architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini rebuilt and enlarged it. In 1818, Pope Pius VII gave it to the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration.

5. Civic Museum of Putignano, Puglia

Did you ever know what it takes to preserve history? The Civic Museum of Putignano was a donation by the Prince in 1967. It hosts artifacts, weapons, and art collections. This museum is at the house of Prince Romanazzi Carducci.

The museum’s exhibition has two sections: a chronological sequence of the city’s development from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages until the 20th century. In contrast, a second section gathers ancient objects found in excavations or donated by private citizens.

6. Chiesa Madre Parrocchia San Pietro Apostolo

The church has always been a significant player in the human world. It has provided physical and spiritual support to people and served as a place of great importance in the lives of individuals and communities.

This mother church is built at the center of town and has been continually undergoing renovation and urban expansion in recent years. The Chiesa Madre Parocchia San Pietro apostolo was built earlier than 1398.

Where to eat in Putignano?

This city has many dining out options, from traditional dishes such as pasta with pesto and bolognese pasta and modern creations like pastrami.

1. Salumeria Bianco- botegga e panini dal 1936

This restaurant is a great choice when you are visiting Chiesa Madre Parrocchia San Pietro apostolo. They serve fresh pastry, bread, high-quality cheese, and salamis and are very friendly to tourists and locals. Historical managers of the Bianco family have run it since 1936.

2. Ristorante Osteria Grotta Bianca

The Ristorante Osteria Grotta Bianca is good if you need lunch near the Castellana Grotte. Surprisingly, many locals eat there too, so it is not a sole tourist restaurant. They serve local Apulian dishes of good food quality.

More Restaurants:

  • Angelo Sabatelli Ristorante
  • Ristorante Sushi “La Pace”
  • Rosticceria Fantasia
  • Frescolatte
  • Caffe’ Italiano
More Puglia:
Full Guide to Getting Around in Puglia
3 day Bari itinerary
Cheap Flights to Bari
Mesagne, Puglia - Visitor's Guide
What is a Masseria?

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