| The pulo of Altamura is with its 90 meters deep and 2 kilometers maximum in the length the largest karstic dolina of the Alta Murgia. It lies at approximately 6 kilometers north of the city. There are various hypothesis, some more plausible than others, around the history and the evolution of this dolina even when for sure the foundations can be found in the karstic nature of the terrain in which it lies. In the karstic region the water gets absorbed by the stone and starts flowing underground. By time water follows the least persistent way, accumulates and starts eroding its surroundings. This is how caves develop. In the case of the Pulo multiple (2 or 3) underground rivers got together up to the point that they had eroded so much the 'roof' fell down.
The Pulo is special in its environmental and biological climate. On the bottom it's always green and there are animal species unique for the region. In the late Middle Ages the Pulo was crucial spot in the sheep migration that went from the mountains in Abruzzo to the Apulian flat lands in winter times and vice versa in the summer. In the rock wall there are some caves present. The most famous (grotta prima) shows signs of prehistoric habitation from the Paleolithic times onto the Bronze Age. Stairs from field give access to the cave which can be visited by anyone. Inside an opening to the Pulo gives a beautiful panorama.
It is possible to walk down into the Pulo. At one part you encounter a shepherds cave. The cave was a natural hole and half way a dry-stone wall was built to have more protection from the elements. A little further down the path there is a vertical cave. The entrance is a little hole that is closed by a gate.
The Pulo is a protected region inside the Alta Murgia park. Several years ago a campaign (in which CARS participated) was held to clean out the bottom from all the thrown away cars and since then it has been clean. Recently the panorama outlook place has been restored, dry-stone walls have been made around and pick nick places have been set up. |