Crispiano, the town of the Hundred Masserie in the province of Taranto: tours of historic masserie, rock caves, the Museum of Rural Civilisation and the themed routes.
History
Crispiano stands among the hills north of Taranto, halfway between the city and the Itria Valley. The territory has been inhabited since prehistory: a tomb assemblage with a diadem and earrings was found here, today part of the celebrated Gold of Taranto kept at the MArTA.
The village arose in the ravine and was rebuilt by the Basilian monks, who in 1226 created the Abbey of Santa Maria and the frescoed crypts. The origin of the name is uncertain: some trace it to the saints Crispus and Crispinian, others to a Roman matron.
What to see
Crispiano is known above all as the "Town of the Hundred Masserie": a case unique in Puglia, where around a hundred masserie built between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries cluster in so small a territory. The architecture ranges from little rural farmsteads to imposing closed-court complexes with fortified walls, raised to defend against pirate raids.
Many have been restored and today host agriturismi and hands-on activities: workshops devoted to oil, wine, milk, honey and wild herbs. Standing out among them is Masseria Lupoli, home of the Museum of Rural Civilisation, telling the popular culture of the territory.
The Hundred Masserie Consortium has created five themed routes: the Route of the Saints among chapels and rock crypts, the Archaeological Route, the Ravines Route (family-friendly), the evocative Brigands' Route — unique of its kind, on the trail of Don Ciro Annicchiarico and Cosimo Mazzeo known as "Pizzichicchio" — and the food and wine routes.
Don't miss the Rock Village of Triglie, with its necropolis and rock churches, the Grotta della Stinge, once a refuge of the Basilian monks, and the churches of the centre: the Mother Church of the Madonna della Neve, San Francesco d'Assisi and the old Church of Santa Maria. The Cacace and Mininni towers also remain visible.
Did you know…
- Nowhere else in Puglia do a hundred masserie cluster in so small a territory.
- A tomb assemblage found in Crispiano is part of the Gold of Taranto at the MArTA.
- The Brigands' Route retraces the sites of Pizzichicchio's deeds.
- The Vallonee Caves sheltered Basilian monks fleeing persecution.
Practical information
| Hours | The village can be visited at any time. Masserie and museum keep their own hours, often by booking. |
|---|---|
| Ticket | Visiting the centre is free. Masserie tours and museum entries for a fee. |
| Accessibility | The centre is easy; the rock and ravine routes require suitable shoes. |
| Getting there | From Taranto: about 16 km northwards, towards Martina Franca. A car is needed. |
Tips for your visit
- Book a guided masserie tour: many are visited by appointment only.
- The Ravines Route is the most suitable for families with children.
- Pair the visit with lunch in a masseria featuring the territory's produce.
- Crispiano is an excellent base for exploring the Itria Valley too.