A large part of the southern slope of the hills that descend from Martina Franca towards Taranto is occupied by the Bosco delle Pianelle, which is what remains of the lands which, in the fourteenth century, were granted by the Principality of Taranto to the inhabitants of the Martina farmhouse in order to grow wood and graze cattle. Today the forest is a destination for tourists, sportsmen, walkers and nature lovers.
Its formation is of sedimentary origin: the territory, currently occupied by the forest, was, over 100 million years ago, a seabed which subsequently surfaced originated a vast limestone platform.
Over the past millennia, the action of rainwater channeling into the cracks has generated some spectacular caves, ravines and karst cavities.
The best known cave is that of the Briganti (or the Sergeant Romano): a large 50m cave located at the base of the overhanging wall of the Gravina del Vuolo. The Pianelle wood constituted a safe refuge for the Brigands in the years in which this phenomenon took root in the Murge area. It is known that the Brigante's Grotto was the place where, those commanded by the legendary Roman Sergeant, made their base in the summer of 1862, the year following the unification of Italy, to reorganize the actions against the National Guard and the looting of neighboring countries up to Alberobello, Noci and Carovigno. The Gravina del Vuolo has other minor karst caves, some of which were home to humans in the Stone Age.
There are many itineraries that can be traveled on foot or by mountain bike following the signs located on the paths that also provide valuable information on the reserve.
On the official website of Bosco Pianelle, there is valuable information about it and the possibility to download the tracks in electronic format.
