The famous, “heel,” of Italy and the most south-eastern part of the country is the region of Apulia, a place in which life is slower, there are two long strips of coastline framing the land that boast endless lovely beaches, large tourist crowds are absent and have yet to discover or descend on the area, and the landscape is beautiful, clean, and bountiful. This is where you will find some of the cleanest beaches in the Mediterranean, little fishing villages where you'll get some of the best and freshest seafood in the world, more than a tenth of all of the wine production and half of the olive oil production in the country, marvelous ancient Greek and Roman ruins, stunning cathedrals, and an endless list of outdoor pursuits to choose from. If you're interested in tradition, getting off the beaten tourist track, and staying active and having adventures, there is no doubt that Apulia is the destination for you!
As you explore this southern region of Italy, where temperatures can soar in the summer, you may be surprised to find that it is home to lots of forests. Among them is the unique Foresta di Mercadante, which is considered the, “green lung of Bari.” Stretching over the area of the Municipality of Cassano delle Murge, part of the Municipality of Altamura and a good chunk of the Alta Murgia National Park for a total of 1,300 hectares, it is actually an artificial forest that was created through a reforestation program in 1928 following extensive flooding and destruction in the region. Trees were planted as the soil was bare and poor and did not offer any resistance to water, allowing it to flow unhindered to the bottom of the valley and allowing for exceptionally bad flooding. To aid in preventing the scale of disaster suffered in the 19th and 20th centuries again, the area was planted with both fast-growing trees such as Aleppo pines and native species such as oaks and holm oaks. As well as this, the protected woodland of Mercadante is also home to cedars and cypress bushes and has quickly grown into a gorgeous and magical place where visitors can go for peace, quiet, relaxation, an escape from daily life and the modern world, and to enjoy various outdoor pursuits.
The most popular activities in the forest are walking, hiking, and cycling and the whole forest is enhanced by an extensive network of tracks. Depending on your interests, fitness, mobility, time restraints, and the people you might be with, there are different routes to suit different needs. Those bringing small children, in wheelchairs, or just looking to stroll for a short time among the trees can simply enjoy the early parts of the forest where initial paths are framed by large cypresses and wildflowers and plants. Those who can go further will be able to head deeper, into the pine forest, the meadows of flowers, past ruins of old farmhouses and other buildings, by lizards, bugs, little animals, and other inhabitants scuttling around, and more. As you explore further, and move away from the entrance, you will quickly find that all becomes much more still and quiet except for the occasional creature or other visitor passing on foot or by bike. Just soak up that peace, take in the incredible beauty of your surroundings, breathe in the phytoncides from the trees (boasting excellent health benefits by calming the body and lowering stress levels, heart rate, and blood pressure and boosting the immune system), and truly relax!
If you are spending time in Apulia and this part of Italy and you need to de-stress and want to explore and have a bit of an adventure, we highly recommend a visit to the wonderful Foresta di Mercadante!
