Insediamento rupestre Macurano
Museum | Alessano | Puglia | Italy
The Rupestrian Settlement of Macurano in Alessano, Puglia, is an archaeological site that documents the history of an ancient settlement dating back to the Byzantine era. The settlement was used by a small agricultural community and was characterized by its fertility, supported by a sophisticated system of channels and cisterns. The region was also known in the past for its two still functioning oil mills, Trappeto Sauli and Trappeto Santa Lucia, highlighting the importance of olive oil production in the area.
In the 16th century, the fortified Masseria Macurano was built on the site, including a chapel that can still be visited today. The site shows remarkable remains of hypogeal oil mills, tombs, food storage silos, and rock-cut graves in limestone. Some of these caves and tombs are no longer accessible, while others are still considered important archaeological finds.
