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In the middle of the triangle formed by
Massafra, Crispiano and Martina Franca, on the corresponding
Murge slope, there is the beautiful Pianelle wood, about 600 ha.
wide.
It has recently been considered a protected area by the Region
Puglia and it is the main gem of the rich environmental and
landscape estate of this territory. It is one of the favourite
stops for visitors and tourists. |
Hoopoe |
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Flora and fauna
Some testimonies of De Romita from the last century assert that,
in Martina woods, there were some martens. Local toponyms, like
Piazza dei Lupi, and a protuberance called “parachene” ( it
blocked woolves from getting into animal corrals), confirm its
great importance as ancient wood, that covered the south-east of
the Murgia area.
The “macchia” (bushed) area alternates to wood areas and its
peculiarity is now a faunistic filling up with night predators,
like long-eared owls, honred owls, owls, tawny owls and barn
owls. Among daily predators there is the buzzard, with its
peculiar slow and gliding flight. Another peculiar bird of the
area is the hoopoe, that makes wondefurl aerobatics and loves
oak woods. In spring time, it is common to hear a cuckoo singing.
In oak woods you can also find some “Lanidi”, like the cinereous
shrike and the red-headed shrike, that make spectacular
courtship exhibitions.From a geomorpholigic point of view, the
wide Pianelle territory has many erosional holes connected to
“lame” (swamps) and gullies and so it appears very varied. Its
vegetation is varied, too. On the Murge slope there are
holm-oaks and on the highest points you can also find other oaks
and the peculiar high ilex grove trees (typical of Medieval
times). In cool and sheltered hollows, instead, there are :
eastern hornbeams, black hornbeams and manna-ashes.
Shrubs like: strawberry trees, wild pears, alaternus,
calicotomus, whitehorns, fillereas and Montpellier cistus.The
main attraction, however, are the many and wonderful orchids
that during spring time embellish the grazing lands.
 DISTANCES- Parco
delle Pianelle is 12 km far from the town, on the way toward
Massafra. |
