Castellaneta: between nature and culture

Castellaneta is an Italian town of 16 178 inhabitants in the province of Taranto, in Puglia. The municipality is located in the heart of the Terra delle Gravine Regional Natural Park and constitutes, together with other municipalities, the so-called Arco Jonico; Castellaneta seems to have a very ancient history, dating back even to the Bronze Age. Its territory presents a great variety of landscapes and different naturalistic, historical and archaeological beauties. In the heart of the historic center we can find the magnificent eighteenth-century Church of San Michele, a symbol of the importance of Castellaneta as a religious reference point. The alleys of the historic center are very beautiful, full of churches and ancient buildings, among which Palazzo Catalano stands out, with its oriental-looking facade. Examples of civil architecture are Palazzo Baronale and Palazzo Vescovile. The splendid Baroque cathedral is dedicated to San Nicola, built in 1220 and almost totally rebuilt in the 18th century. From a natural point of view, the surrounding area offers breathtaking landscapes; it is rich in ravines, among all the Gravina Grande, one of the largest in Puglia.