Small Murgia hills town near Bari, known for Slow Food-recognised Mandorla di Toritto almonds
Toritto is a small town in the Murgia hills about 20 minutes by train from Bari, known above all for its almonds. The Mandorla di Toritto, a local variety recognised by Slow Food as a Presidium product, is considered among the finest in Italy — ground into paste for pastries, roasted, or pressed into oil.
The countryside around Toritto is dotted with trulli and old masserie (fortified farmhouses), and makes for a pleasant half-day drive or cycle through olive groves and almond orchards. The town itself is quiet and unhurried, with a compact historic centre around the Chiesa Madre di Sant'Anna and a few trattorias serving straightforward Pugliese cooking. It is not a destination in its own right, but a worthwhile detour for anyone exploring the inland side of Puglia beyond the coast.
Guide
Getting There
Toritto is about 25 km southwest of Bari. The Ferrovie Appulo Lucane (FAL) trains running from Bari Centrale toward Matera stop at Toritto roughly every hour, taking about 30 minutes. By car, take the SS96 from Bari to Modugno and follow the signs for Grumo Appula — the drive takes around 30 minutes.
There is no airport closer than Bari (BRI), which has direct flights from across Italy and most of Europe.
Guide
When to Go
The almond blossom is the marquee event — late February into early March — when the orchards turn pale pink and the Murgia is briefly spectacular. Late August is harvest time, the chance to see (and buy) the kernels coming straight off the trees.
Summer (July and August) is hot and dry; daytime temperatures often climb past 35 C. Spring and early autumn are the best months for walking and cycling, with mild days and long evenings. Winters are cool, with the occasional snowfall up on the high Murgia.
