It was the 29th of May, in 1931, when during the excavation work for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant, a few meters from the town of Putignano, workers discovered a wonder of nature: a “vast cave of stalactites and stalagmites “, so Cav. Ernesto Losavio, the authority of Putignano, asked the Civil Engineers to carry out an inspection in that area as soon as possible to make agreements on the measures to dictate.
On June 28th, 1931, by the Superintendence of Antiquities and Art of Puglia, an explicit request was made to the Ministry of National Education to put under protection the natural cave located in Putignano on the basis of law n.778 of 11 / 06/22. After less than three months, the Grotto of Putignano was declared subject to special protection, its conservation presents a significant public interest because of its natural beauty.
Grotta del Trullo was inaugurated June 21, 1935 with the presence of the highest officials of the city and the region. The ceremony was presided by the Prince of Italy, Umberto II di Savoia. The Prince went to Putignano invitation of the Marquis Guglielmo Romanazzi – Carducci, the Podesta of the country, and in the same date was inaugurated Grotta del Trullo and the climate sanatorium of Monte Laureto.
Officially, Grotta del Trullo in Putignano was inaugurated on the 21st June, 1935, in the presence of the highest officials of the city and the region. The ceremony was presided by the Prince of Italy, Umberto II of Savoy. As stated in the historical documents, the Prince went to Putignano, at the invitation of the Marquis Guglielmo Romanazzi – Carducci, at that time the authority of the town, and on the same date were inaugurated Grotta del Trullo and the Climatic Sanatorium of Monte Laureto. In memory of this august visit, a commemorative plaque was hung on the walls of the trullo at the entrance to the cave, which is still present today.
The Putignano cave has become the first tourist site in Southern Italy, where visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a hidden place and admire what the nature has drawn over time.
From historical documents, it is clear that the tourist flow must have been quite abundant, so much so that in April 1934 it was decided to erect a “modest building” in the square near the descent steps leading to the caves. This construction was considered essential to give the visitor “a minimum of rest or refreshment”. So they began the construction of monumental Trulli that marry well with the caves as both are symbols of our region, and for their presence they chose to call the underground treasure of Putignano “Grotta del Trullo”.
A TREASAURE UNDER THE TRULLI
Discover Grotta del Trullo, discover the most evocative karst cave in Puglia.
We are opening every day (Except Dec 25th).
