The Heart of Puglia
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THE HEART OF PUGLIA Terra di Bari Pdo Oil C ONSORZI O DI TUTELA OLIO DOP TERRA DI BARI “If goodness, moderation, virtue, wealth, sciences, defended this area as few nobility could prevent death, Federico, would do in the future. Between history who lies here, would not have died”. and legend, the figure of Frederick II of This is how the famous historical and Swabia embodies the endless cultural, medieval Florentine chronicler Giovanni architectural, scientific and agricultural Villani describes Frederick II of Swabia, paternity of the “heart of Puglia” that known at that time as “Stupor mundi”, we want to tell. Barletta, the castle the astonishment of the world, and The Puglia Sveva, whose features were symbol of the Puglia Sveva which now tracked by the most enlightened mon- Puglia Sveva is a territorial brand created by the Consortium for the protection of the Castel del Monte DOC wines and the LEGEND OF PUGLIA Consortium for the protection and valori- zation of the PDO Terra di Bari extra virgin olive oil, with the support of the Ministry collects in this absolute identity brand. arch of the Middle Ages: a man, as poet of agricultural, food and forestry policies, Frederick II, Emperor of the Holy Roman Ugo Foscolo reminds us, “aspired to able to tell and promote the excellence Empire from 1220 to 1250, lived and ex- unite Italy under one prince, one form of of the “heart of Puglia”. periences these places; he loved them, government and one single language; Starting with the wine and the extra virgin he built houses and castles, including and to pass it to his successors as a pow- olive oil, and then involving all the other the enigmatic and severe Castel del erful reign among the monarchies of actors in a territory with ancient tradi- Monte (Unesco World Heritage Site Europe”. A revolutionary desire for unity tions, Puglia Sveva is the symbol of an since 1996), kept falcons for hunting, and freedom that would have taken the environment unique in Italy: a true oasis scanned the sky to interrogate the stars, first steps right from his cherished land, of culture, serenity and pleasure. studied algebra, medicine and natural the Puglia Sveva. PUGLIA SVEVA Farms, wineries, oil mills, dairy factories, Canne della Battaglia pottery workshops, museums and historic towns, on the seaside or at the heart of the Murge area, draw the weft and warp of one of the most authentic and original environment of the region. A clear and pure light illuminates the landscape, nourishing the body and soul of those who are even just passing by, and the pleasure of the senses is the only way to keep track of time. Puglia Sveva is the promise of uniqueness, quality, tradition and discovery of the unique essence of the “heart of Puglia” which, in a not too distant past, was for the entire West a popular choice for the “Wonder of the World”. Castel del Monte THE DISCOVERY OF PUGLIA Around Castel del Monte The phenomenon of karst The karst in Puglia is a geological phenomenon which affects much of the region but its most visible expression lies right in the Murge, influencing the composition and the adaptation of crops. Limestones, crevices, caves, cavities and furrows, called “lame” or “gravine”, are an integral part of this landscape which, however, does not show a total From the sea to the High Murgia, the In the High Murgia, then, the dominant homogeneity, as it divides into three geological ancient plateau that forms the back- color is the dazzling white of the stones sub-zones: the high, the low and the coastal Murge. bone of most of the region, this area that burst from the inside of a land that is a succession of colors. seems a casket of the remains of the It starts from the blue and the light fossil giant that geological sciences blue, where the line between sky and call Murgia karst. water is blurred and shimmering, and The teritory of the Puglia Sveva is then proceeds towards the ocher soil very ancient, calcareous and rocky; and white stone of Trani, a local tufa the surface water is almost totally which the cathedral of the coastal town absent, although abundant in the The terroir was built with deeper crevices of the rock of this Bari, San Nicola In the back country then comes the ancient underground. green, not only the one of the olive The climate in winter is characterized trees and vines, but also the one of by a marked continentality in inland the woods in which cohabit trees like areas, which becomes milder and more the Macedonian oak, the downy oak, Mediterranean descending towards the holm oak, the hackberry, the wild the sea. Summers are hot, dry, some- olive and the mastic. times very arid, with sporadic rainfall but good daily temperature ranges, especially in the higher inland areas. Minervino Murge Vineyards, olive groves, orchards and vegetable gardens dot the Puglia Sveva, which gets colored here and there by farms, villages, wineries, oil mills and dairy factories. There are many places to live and dis- Alberobello cover, from Trani to Gravina di Puglia, Barletta, Andria, Ruvo di Puglia, famous for the Jatta National Archeologic Mu- The Puglia Sveva is a land of contrast seum, Bitonto, Acquaviva delle Fonti, Alberobello with its trulli houses pro- and absolute, a place of unique experiences tected by UNESCO, Gioia del Colle, Altamura, capital of the bread, and Bari and, in every season, a trip that means itself, the capital of history, gastronomy discovery, adventure, warmth, excitement, and one of the most fascinating cross- roads of peoples and cultures in Italy. wonder and endless pleasure. Bitonto, Co-Cathedral of St. Valentine THE ENCHANTMENT OF PUGLIA Altamura Dominating the whole territory, right in the heart of this area, the Alta Murgia National Park, established in 2004 and nowadays the largest rural park in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. Charming and inhospitable at the same time, this environment represents, step by step, the work of adaptation of peo- ple to a habitat among the most severe of the Italian peninsula. Dry stone walls, “casedde”, “trulli” and “jazzi” for the housing of sheep mark an almost Trani, Cathedral view indefinite space, inflexible, hard and Alta Murgia National Park sometimes with a lunar appearance. Coratina Cima di Bitonto THE PEOPLE OF PUGLIA Barletta o Cima di Mola nt Trani fa Bisceglie O e Molfetta 633 farmers, thanks to the love for their land, produce in full compliance with the specifi- m Giovinazzo iu F Andria cations, observing specific planting, growing and harvesting characteristics for the olives. BARI The quality path continues along the production chain: therefore, millers, cooperatives, Canosa di Puglia Triggiano Bitonto Corato Mola di Bari producer organizations and bottling companies, ensuring milling and bottling complying Terlizzi Modugno Castel del Monte Bitetto Capurso Minervino Murge with the rules, become – just like the olive growers – guarantors of the authenticity of the Palo del colle Polignano Cellamare Ruvo di Puglia PDO Terra di Bari extra virgin olive oil. Grumo Bitritto Monopoli Spinazzola Noicattaro Sannicandro Rutigliano Bitetto Valenzano Poggiorsini Sammichele Noci Torritto Adelfia Cassano Conversano Castellana 6,5 million 21 36 Casamassima Putignano PDO bottles miller bottler Gravina Acquaviva Turi Altamura Locorotondo Alberobello produced members members Gioia del colle Santeramo 633 15,839 olive hectares cultivated growers Consortium for the protection and valorization of the PDO Terra di Bari extra virgin olive oil.Production area. Besides the farmers, 36 members of the Finally, there are members who cover the Consortium take part to the PDO production entire PDO Terra di Bari production chain, Promoting the territory of Puglia Sveva Since the PDO Terra di Bari mark was chain, as olive growers, millers or bottlers. from the harvesting to the marketing of the and especially the extra virgin olive obtained in 2009, the Consortium strives Seven among them are both olive growers oil, in this category there are 2 companies: oil produced here, since 2000, there for the promotion of the largest certified and producers of the PDO olive oil: Azienda Conte Spagnoletti Zeuli - Azienda agricola is the Consortium for the protection olive grove of Italy, promoting, year agricola De Carlo, Azienda Agricola Di Micco Spagnoletti Zeuli Onofrio, Frantoio oleario and valorization of the PDO Terra di after year, the care of the production, Pasqua, Azienda Agricola Marmo Maria – Guglielmi Carmela, and 8 cooperatives: Co- Bari extra virgin olive oil. By bringing from harvesting to milling, and parallel Tenuta Cocevola, Azienda Agricola Minervini operativa Agricola Progresso, Cooperativa together farmers, millers and packers, information activity for the consumers Gregorio - Marcinase, Azienda Agricola f.lli C.O.V.A.N. – Corona delle Puglie, Cooperativa the Consortium is an essential produc- about the uniqueness of this extra virgin Tandoi, Azienda agricola Salvatore Stal- Lavorazione Prodotti agricoli di Corato – Terra tion chain within the key sector of the olive oil. lone - “Le tre colonne” and Torre di Bocca Maiorum, Elaiopolio Coop. della Riforma region, ensuring, at the same time, the di Spagnoletti Zeuli Nicola & C. Fondiaria di Ruvo – Il Rosone, La Coratina preservation of the landscape and of 8 miller members are part of the Consortium Società Cooperativa, Oleificio cooperativo the rural heritage, and the quality of also as bottlers of the PDO olive oil: Agri- Cima di Bitonto, Oleificio Cooperativo della the certified excellence final product. natura, Agroalimentari del Colle, Biolevante Riforma Fondiaria di Andria – Tre Campanili, The extra virgin olive oil produced in the - Levante, D’Addato Agroalimentare, De Oleificio cooperativo Molfetta Goccia di territory of the Puglia Sveva is the result Carlo, Frantoio Galantino, Frantoio Oleario sole, Oleificio cooperativo produttori agricoli of an age-old interaction between man, Di Molfetta, Pellegrino.