Spazio X

The countryside surrounding Spazio X yields unexpected surprises, like a trio of dolmens (all within a 10-minute drive) dating back to the Bronze Age, but rediscovered only in the early 20th century. The Dolmen of Chianca is occasionally used as an atmospheric setting for concerts and cultural events. An elegant palace in Ruvo di Puglia (20 minutes) houses the Museo Archeologico Nazionale Jatta, with its collection of well-preserved red-and-black terracotta vases, some dating as far back as the sixth century BC. Ruvo’s 13th-century Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, with its Romanesque architecture, is also well worth a look. Bari (35 minutes) is renowned for its old town, a labyrinth of narrow alleyways where you might bump into a local grandmother making orecchiette pasta on her doorstep. The unadorned 11th-century Basilica San Nicola has an elegant vaulted crypt, while at Molo San Nicola you can take in coastal views while sampling freshly caught fish.