Massafra is the largest town on the western side of the province of Taranto and lies along the magnificent and evocative ravine of San Marco. Massafra’s uniqueness lies in the fact that, unlike other towns where rock-cut culture is absent from the more recent settlement, the various settlements can be seen simultaneously from the three bridges connecting the two parts of the city. Massafra is the city with the largest number of Basilian-era rock-cut churches and crypts in all of Puglia. Among these, we would like to mention the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Scala, at the bottom of the ravine of the same name (accessed by a 125-step staircase), Sant’Antonio Abate, San Marco, the Madonna della Candelora, etc. Not far from the Sanctuary, continuing along a path inside the ravine, we find a series of interconnected caves, where the monks used to store medicinal herbs (hence the name Farmacia del Mago Greguro). Of considerable historical interest is Massafra’s diverse array of churches, from Byzantine ones to recent constructions from the 1970s and 1980s. Of particular interest are the aforementioned Sanctuary of the Madonna, the Baroque Church of San Benedetto, and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, Massafra’s cathedral. These, along with the ravines and the castle, are one of the city’s symbols due to the dome that dominates the entire town. Last but not least, a must-see is the castle, perched atop the ravine of San Marco. Built in the 14th century on the foundations of an earlier structure, perhaps Norman, it was built.
Among the most important events to remember is undoubtedly the Massafra Carnival, one of the most popular in the Puglia region.