Pulo di Altamura: excursion in the Alta Murgia National Park

About this tour

A three-hour walking tour through Alta Murgia National Park near Altamura, exploring the rolling limestone plateau on foot. You'll traverse ancient shepherds' routes and oak woodlands, passing ruined farmhouses, stone cisterns and natural pasturelands dotted with sheep. The walk culminates at an octagonal stone structure perched 540 metres up, offering sweeping views across the parkland. Spring herbs perfume the air; limestone outcrops punctuate wheat fields and rocky slopes.

Highlights

• Octagonal stone crown at 540m with panoramic vistas
• Ancient transhumance paths through oak forests
• Abandoned farmhouses and traditional sheep shelters
• Wild orchids, mint, thyme and soaring raptors
• Pastoral landscape shaped by centuries of shepherd traditions
• Stone cisterns and haystacks among wheat fields

What to expect

Expect gentle to moderate terrain across open moorland and woodland tracks. You'll move at a steady pace, stopping to take in views and spot wildlife—sheep, birds of prey and wildflowers are common sightings. The walk follows well-worn paths, some historic drove routes where shepherds once moved flocks seasonally. Farmhouse ruins and stone structures mark human habitation across the plateau. Weather is exposed on the high ground, so wind and sun are factors. The final push to the octagonal monument is the highest point, rewarding effort with expansive horizons.

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