Puglia is a crossroads of civilizations. Since prehistoric times, Messapians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Normans have passed through, each leaving their mark. Its position between the Adriatic and Ionian seas, on the route to Greece and the Middle East, made the region a gateway for trade, warfare, and culture. Today, Puglia offers an extraordinary mix of dolmens, amphitheaters, castles, and baroque towns — an open-air museum where every layer of history is still visible.
Egnazia
Egnazia is a 30-minute drive from Villa Gufo, a city where time unfolds in layers before your eyes. It is not the ruin of a single era, but a palimpsest: each layer of history written over the one before. You can see how a settlement of simple huts evolved into a thriving Roman trading city, only to slowly fade away.
As early as the 8th century BC, the Messapians built their settlement here, with impressive walls made of massive stone blocks. In the 4th century BC, the Greeks arrived and gave the city a Mediterranean flair. Then, from the 3rd century BC onwards, the Romans took over and transformed Egnazia into a bustling port city along the famous Via Traiana.
That long history is still visible today: prehistoric Bronze Age tombs, an acropolis, a forum, bathhouses, and colorful mosaics from the 2nd century AD. Each layer tells its own story, and together they create a unique journey through more than a thousand years of history.
Overlooking the Adriatic Sea and surrounded by olive groves, Egnazia is not just an archaeological site, but an enchanting place where past and nature blend into one.
Opening hours:
Museum: 8:30 am – 7:30 pm (ticket office usually until around 7:00 pm)
Archaeological park / ruins:
• April to September: 8:30 am – 7:15 pm
• October: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
• November to February: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
• March: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
The ticket office usually closes 1 hour before closing time.
The park is open every day except January 1, May 1, and Christmas Day, when it is closed.
Admission & price
Combined ticket for both the museum and ruins: €6.00
Address: Via degli Scavi,= 86, Fasano
Website (city Fasano)
Website Museum Egnazia
CLICK HERE for directions
Dolmen of Montalbano
The Dolmen of Montalbano, also known as the Tavola dei Paladini, lies hidden among the ancient olive groves of Montalbano di Fasano in Puglia. This mysterious Bronze Age monument is made of massive limestone slabs that once formed a burial or ritual chamber, probably covered by a mound of earth and stone.
What today appears as a simple stone table was, for the communities of thousands of years ago, a sacred place connected to the dead, to rituals, and perhaps even to the stars. The dolmen is therefore not only an archaeological monument but also a gateway to a forgotten world that can still be felt in the quiet landscape around it.
Near the dolmen you can also find remains of cave dwellings or burial tombs. Walk to the right of the small white house, across the field, and you will discover one of these remains (see photo).
If you continue exploring this area, you will encounter other fascinating traces of the past, such as ancient waterways.
The dolmen is freely accessible to all, though unfortunately it is not protected as a monument. It makes an ideal stop on the way to Fasano, Torre Canne, or Monopoli.
CLICK HERE for the location
Cripta di Lama d’Antico (rock-cut church)
In the green valley of Fasano lies the Parco Rupestre di Lama d’Antico, where, carved into the rock, you’ll discover a hidden gem: the Cripta di Lama d’Antico. This medieval rock-cut church is often called the “cathedral in the stone.” Inside you can explore two naves with pillars and arches, a carved altar, and still-visible frescoes of Christ, Mary, and John.
The entire park breathes history: from prehistoric traces to medieval dwellings and workshops. A walk here feels like traveling through the layers of time, surrounded by nature, silence, and art that has survived for centuries. On this site you’ll find no fewer than 3 rock-cut churches, cave dwellings, workshops, agricultural remains, and a natural lama (ravine) carved by water erosion.
Entrance:
- €6 for the rock-cut church Cripta di Lama d’Antico
- €12 for all the rock-cut churches and the park
Opening hours – October 1 to May 15
Every Sunday from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
Also available on other days by booking in advance: Book your tour
Opening hours – May 16 to September 30
Daily from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm (last entry at 7:00 pm)
Address: Strada Provinciale Fasano-Savelletri – Contrada Sarzano, Fasano
Tel: (+39) 328 359 75 17
info@lamadantico.it
Website
CLICK HERE for the location
