Dozens of events for a territory ready to welcome new international flows and to confirm itself as a point of reference for culture, history and traditions.
The Castellana Caves and the Municipality of Castellana Grotte, gateway to the Itria Valley, are at the center of the tourism days at the BIT. There was a lot of curiosity around the stand that brought to Milan the main events of the Municipality and the beauties of the largest karst site in Italy and among the most beautiful in the world..
After a 2023 that saw record numbers of tourists from Italy and abroad, and participation in the many special events organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Castellana Grotte, Grotte di Castellana Srl is restarting in 2024 with the goal of strengthening its cultural offerings and attracting new international visitors, working in synergy with the City of Caves and its rich cultural and artistic heritage, made up of historic buildings and churches, folklore, and tradition.
Il Municipality of Castellana Grotte and the Castellana Grotte Company were protagonists at the BIT, the International Tourism Exchange where they presented – in a press conference attended by the mayor Domi Ciliberti, the president of the Grotte Serafino Ostuni company, the general director of the Department of Tourism, Economy of Culture and Territorial Development of the Puglia Region Aldo Patruno and the artistic director of the Grotte Giuseppe Savino, in the presence of Maurizio Tommaso Pace president of the Municipal Council of Castellana Grotte and Nicola Ivone vice president of Grotte di Castellana srl – the 2024 program, already started in January with “The Days of Fire”, the immersive theatre of “From the Origin”, the historical reenactment of the plague of 1690 and the magical Night of the Fanòve.
The Grotte company has launched a rich calendar of events, under the generous and expert artistic direction of Joseph Savino, a calendar that covers all months of the year and is intended for visitors of all ages. In addition to the most popular explorations, those in the cave in the dark Spelonight e Speleofamily illuminated only by the light of the helmet, the offer also includes guided tours of the Speleological Museum “Franco Anelli”, i educational workshops for students of all levels, the experiential laboratory “Cave & Stars” organized in collaboration with the Aps Sirio and SottoSopra; the evenings of observation of the sky and celestial bodies organized by theSirius Astronomical Observatory; the show of Peter Pan dedicated to little dreamers; “Hell in the Cave”, the largest and longest-running underground aerial show in the world, which has been held for over 12 years and combines dance, voices, sounds and lights in the natural setting of the Castellana Caves.
The offer for 2024 is completed by other major events organised by the Castellana Caves: from “Halloween Creepy Cave” to "Christmas in the Caves” with the Living Nativity Scene, from ““Fall in love in the caves” to the night visits of “White at Night”, from events to combat violence against women to photography tours, and then concerts by great artists inside and outside the karst site.
The cultural offerings of the Caves are combined with those of the Municipality of Castellana Grotte Its strategic location allows tourists to experience natural beauty, enjoy the rich food and wine scene, participate in organized events, and enjoy the convenience of being at the heart of one of Puglia's most beautiful regions. Castellana Grotte is its countryside, rich in lush vegetation, with vast green fields, cherry trees, almond trees, and centuries-old olive trees; its historic center, the setting for unforgettable events; its architectural structures, many of which have now been restored to visitors as homes where they can stay and relive a history passed down through the care and attention of a homely hospitality; its dishes, the flavors of authenticity and slow living that give meaning, purpose, and pleasure to the good life.
The calendar of events promoted by the Municipality of Castellana Grotte is packed, from January to December, from tradition to innovation: the Night of the Fanòve, the historical reenactments "Ab Origine – Where it all began"and "Abbatissae – Women, power and other stories“, events during which generations meet and relive together the story of their roots, the project of street art by Libervia with the masonry works located throughout the Castellana Grotte area and the numerous artistic works contained in the city churches (from Aurelio Persio to Vincenzo Fato and Fra Luca Principino).
A fabric of suggestions, stories, settings, colors and scents that intertwine with today's places and its inhabitants to generate an immersive return to the past between devotion, traditions and folklore. And again, the April Feast, among the most eagerly awaited events by the community, in honour of the Madonna della Vetrana who, according to tradition, freed the town from the plague of 1690-1691; Chicken and Rabbit Festivals this year at the 68th edition, and the Impanata confirming a long history of food and wine.
In the squares that light up with art, sounds and colours, then, the reviews of Summer Squares (from July until the end of September) and Winter Squares from December to January of the following year.
"Thanks to a process started in recent months and consolidated through numerous initiatives - commented on Mayor of Castellana Grotte, Domi Ciliberti We are working hard to increasingly make arriving, staying, and staying in our area an immersive experience. Castellana Grotte is a geographic crossroads between towns offering an incredible number of tourist attractions, from the sea to the trulli, from food and wine to popular culture, all of which come together in our marvelous caves. Castellana is a crossroads of stories, some unique, like the Monstrum Apuliae, the spiritual and temporal power in the hands of a woman for over 600 years, rediscovered in the Abbatissae reenactment. Castellana is a crossroads of art, with the countless works that enrich our churches and palaces. Castellana Grotte is also a crossroads for events linked to fire, faith, and tradition, such as the Notte delle Fanòve and the historical reenactment Ab Origine, which recounts the events of the plague of 1690-1691. A series of events that span all seasons and always ensure the attractiveness of our town.
The Castellana Caves are much more than a mere tourist attraction: they are a point of reference for tourists from around the world and for the citizens to whom the Caves belong. They are promoters of culture and collaborate with the Municipality to act as a sounding board for all the good the city can give and do. In recent years – claimed Serafino Ostuni, president of Grotte di Castellana Srl The company has transformed the Caves into natural stages for memorable events and, in collaboration with the Municipality, has organized some of the most evocative days of the year from an artistic, cultural, and musical perspective. For 2024, we intend to continue the positive trend of 2023 and enhance the offerings, welcoming new influxes of international visitors and ensuring accessibility for people with reduced mobility and sensory disabilities, so that everyone can fully enjoy this wonderful gift that Mother Nature has entrusted to us.
“In the collective imagination - he has declared Aldo Patruno, Director General of the Department of Tourism, Cultural Economy and Territorial Development of the Puglia Region Castellana Grotte is represented only by the Caves, which paradoxically can act as an attraction that devours everything else. Yet, it is important to reconnect the heart of the town of Castellana with the Caves. The Municipality has successfully integrated the extraordinary heritage of its past, present, and future, and has created the conditions for this great achievement. An example of this ability was seen last January with the performance of Ab Origine, a historical revisitation that engaged the local area, residents, and spectators. Castellana Grotte becomes a stage to showcase the beauty of its offerings.
