The Gargano National Park has launched an ambitious project for the restoration and valorization of the dry stone walls and terraces on its territory. This first intervention, with an investment of approximately 1 million and 110 thousand euros, specifically concerns the areas owned by the municipalities of Monte Sant’Angelo and Mattinata.
I Dry stone walls are a distinctive element of the rural landscape of Gargano National Park and play a vital role in conserving the land and identifying agricultural areas and sheep trails. Unfortunately, Many of these walls have been in a state of advanced degradation for years, endangering not only the appearance of the area, but also its stability, accelerating dangerous erosive phenomena. Despite their recognized value as an agricultural landscape of particular interest, these walls have never undergone maintenance work despite being within the Natura 2000 area.
Origin of dry stone walls
The dry stone walls, also known as dry stone walls, they are structures built without the use of mortar or cement to connect the stone blocks. This thousand year old technology it has developed in different parts of the world and dates back thousands of years. The origin of dry stone walls they date from the Neolithic periodwhen early farming communities learned to stack stones on top of each other to mark farmland, protect crops and provide shelter for animals.
These age-old building techniques have been passed down from generation to generation and can be found in many parts of the world, from Europe to the Middle East, from Asia to North Africa. They are particularly characteristic of the rural landscape of Mediterranean islands such as Sardinia, Puglia, Corsica and the Greek Islands, where dry stone walls form an integral part of the cultural and agricultural landscape.
Today, the dry stone walls they are not only historical evidence, but are still used for practical purposes such as fences, terraces and supports for hilly terrain, but also for their aesthetic and ecological value, which contributes to the conservation of the landscape and biodiversity.
The recovery project
The project was developed by the Gargano National Park Authority, Puglia, with the approval of the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, to finance the intervention through the “Green infrastructure”. The walls, together with a significant part of the terraces, which the Gargano National Park will restore on land owned by the municipality of Monte Sant’Angelo, cover several hectares. They have an average height that varies between 1.5 and 2.5 meters and are located on the south side of the town of Monte Sant’Angelo, in the lower part of the city center. The dry stone walls that support Mattinata’s historic road network extend for several kilometers along the route of the Tor di Lupo and Cavola-Monte Saraceno mule trails.
Project goals
The project aims to preserve an important territorial infrastructure and strengthen the historical-cultural and landscape heritage. In addition, it will contribute to the protection of the soil and the improvement of the hydrogeological aspects of the territory. The first phase concerns the restoration of terraces in the municipalities of Monte Sant’Angelo and Mattinata, but the project is expected to be extended to other municipal areas of the Gargano.
Acknowledgments and gratitude
Il President of the Park Authority, Pasquale Pazienza, expresses his gratitude to the Ministry of Environment and the technical team for their support of the project. The President underlined the importance of an intervention aimed at the restoration of the walls and terraces on the territory of the Gargano National Park. These elements, which are in a state of abandonment especially in municipal areas, represent a historical-cultural and landscape heritage of great value. The intervention not only retains these characteristics, but also has them bioecological relevance, thus promoting the life of local fauna and contributing to soil protection and hydrogeological improvement. This initiative highlights the fundamental role of the Park Authority in the area, which is able to attract ministerial funding.
Construction technology and attention to animals
The restoration will follow traditional techniques and use local materials. Special attention will be paid to this during construction guarantee the passage and shelter of animals through small openings in the walls.