Alta Murgia National Park National Park

Address: Alta Murgia National Park, Apulia (Puglia), Italy

Website: https://www.parcoaltamurgia.it/

Admission: Park entry often free; fees may apply for specific sites or guided tours

Alta Murgia National Park is a protected area in the Apulia region of southern Italy created to conserve the Murgia plateau and its steppe-like landscapes. The park protects a mosaic of rocky plateaus, dry grasslands and archaeological sites spread across rural municipalities.

Visitors encounter wide open limestone plains, patches of low scrub and traces of traditional pastoral and agricultural land use, together with scattered historical ruins and rural architecture. The park is used for walking, nature observation and to study karst geomorphology.

The national park was established by Italian authorities to preserve the distinctive Murgia environment, its biodiversity and its cultural heritage associated with rural land use. Conservation focuses on habitat protection and sustainable rural activities.

Alta Murgia lies inland in Apulia between the cities of Bari and Matera, covering parts of the Murgia plateau that separates the Adriatic coastal plain from interior basins.

• Landscape characteristics: Home to a karst plateau of limestone and dry grassland habitats characteristic of the Murgia, with visible stone walls and agricultural terraces shaped over centuries.

Alta Murgia National Park is in the Apulia region of southern Italy. The park is accessible by car from cities like Bari (about 1-1.5 hours) and Matera. Regional buses and local roads connect small towns within the park; a car gives the most flexibility to explore dispersed sites.

• Drive the scenic routes between Murgia towns to see dry stone walls, trulli and the park's karst landscapes.
• Visit early in the morning to catch the light on limestone plateaus and to observe grazing sheep with fewer tourists.
• Explore smaller towns like Altamura or Gravina in Puglia for complementary historical layers: cathedrals, caves and bread traditions.