Toritto

Toritto is a town in the province of Bari (BA) in the Italian region of Apulia (Puglia), Italy.

Get in
The easiest way to reach Toritto is from Bari (the capital city of Apulia), where there is an international airport. Train connection is by "Appulo Lucana" railroad network which has station in Piazza Moro in the center of Bari. The train reaches the station of Toritto in twenty minutes.

Get around
By foot: many trulli and beautiful masserie. By Train: in a few minutes Bari, Altamura, Matera, the National Park of Alta Murgia. By bike: the touristic village of Quasano.

See
Toritto has a very nice historical center with an important Norman tower and several nice roads and squares, Notable is "Via Ettore D'Urso" which has very large pavements because in ancient times almonds were laid there to be dried in sunshine. At a few miles from Toritto there are two archaeological sites of international importance, unfortunately not well known: the Peucet city of IV Century B.C., dominating a big Lama (dried bed of river) and the impressive "Grotta di San Martino". Another notable place is the Pulicchio, a huge cave with no ceiling which has produced an incredibly rich eco-system. Totitto is famous for its enchanting masserie "a pignon", a stone farmhouse, built with the same technique as trulli. It is one of the few places where masserie have been built in that way, because usually in Apulia tufa is used to build them. The "a pignon" style makes the masserie in Toritto to have a very archaic look. This gives an appearance of mystery and secrecy which has produced, like in Scotland, many stories about ghosts and giant reptiles. Of course no evidence of such pretty creatures has ever been produced.

Do
Walking in a beautiful landscape, full of almond and olive trees; visiting archaeological sites; horse riding on the Murgia hills; learning how to cook astonishing almond cakes by local ladies; learning the making of cavatelli pasta; attending post-graduate summer courses at the local branch of the Italian Institute of Philosophical Studies; chatting with very friendly people in the square "Vittorio Emanuele"; attending a training program in the summer camp at the local Archeoclub, association for archeological studies.

Buy
The almonds of Toritto are considered by experts among the best in the world. Local ancient varieties are "Antonio Devito" and "Filippo Cea", with a strong and anyway balanced taste which makes such almonds at the top for high pastry art. Some of the most important confectioners shops in Europe buy such local almonds, the best expression of a unique terroir. Also, organic extra-virgin olive oil is available from local farmers.

Eat
Almond cakes are among the best in the world. You can contact the Prasidium of Slow Food "Almond of Toritto" to get name of pastry makers.

Drink
Local wine is very good, made by the grape varieties Troia and Aglianico.

Sleep
There are B&B and agritourisms. You can find them calling at the numbers in "Contact"

Connect
The praesidium of Slow Food "Almond of Toritto" is glad to provide you any information. Call +39 330767075 or send a fax to +39 080-5617833.

Go next
Toritto is an ideal starting point to visit the National Park of Alta Murgia. Matera, Bari, Ruvo di Puglia, Altamura, Gravina di Puglia can be reached a few minutes by car or by train.