Castellana Grotte is a town in the province of Bari (BA) in the Italian region of Apulia (Puglia), Italy.
Initially, the town was named "Castellana". The settlement itself was born in the 10th century, after a colonization by the monastic order of San Benedetto di Conversano. However, its official foundation as a feud dates back to December 1171. The name "Castellana Grotte" was not given until 1950 after the discovery in 1938 of the iconic cave system by geologists Franco Anelli and Vito Matarrese; this event granted the town a substantial rise in tourism popularity and became one of the most famous destinations in Puglia. One should not be mistaken into thinking caves are the only attraction this town has to offer: throughout the year there are many festivals and events, each with its own origin radicated in the history of Castellana Grotte, such as "Festa delle Fanòve" on January 11 and various musical and cultural festivals scattered through June to September. Like many other typical towns and villages in Puglia, craftmanship and food culture are also not to be overlooked.
The closest airports to Castellana Grotte are located in Brindisi and Bari, the latter being the closest. Both airports provide intercity transport via Taxi, Bus and rental car, with Bari also offering a connection by train.
To get to Castellana Grotte, one must first get on a train from the airport to Bari Centrale train station. According to Ferrotramviaria S.p.A., a single ticket will cost you 5,00€, but in case you need it the company also offers different subscription plans. You can also take a bus, car or taxi directly to Castellana Grotte.
Once landed, the fastest way to get to Castellana Grotte would be to reach the Brindisi train station either by bus, car, or taxi, and then take the train to Castellana Grotte. Alternatively, you can take a bus, car or taxi that takes you straight to Castellana Grotte.
The Castellana Grotte train station is administered by the Ferrovie del Sud Est company, which is the one you should be looking for when buying or booking a ticket.
The town is quite small, so transiting on foot is the most reliable way to get around the city centre. However it's recommended to rent a car since it is the best way to reach nearby towns with enough autonomy to not rely on public transport's fares and service hours.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division