“Biodiversa” inaugurated. The Italy of Parks” – AndriaLive.it

Ribbon cutting yesterday morning in Gravina in Puglia, in the presence of the Undersecretary of State Sen. Claudio Barbaro, of the first edition of “Biodiverse. The Italy of Parks tells its story”the showcase of Italian protected areas to narrate biodiversity, breathtaking landscapes and traditions, even those linked to food.

The event, scheduled until Sunday 23 June, is promoted by the Alta Murgia National Park on the occasion of the first 20 years since its establishment (which took place on 10 March 2004), in collaboration with Federparchi, the Ministry of the Environment and Safety Energetica, ISPRA, Puglia Region and Pugliapromozione, Lazio Region and Municipality of Gravina in Puglia.

Also present at the event was the mayor of Andria, lawyer. Giovanna Bruno, also acting as Vice President of the Alta Murgia National Park Community, together with the Councilor for Quality of Life of the Municipality of Andria, lawyer. Savino Losappio.

In his greeting, Mayor Bruno underlined the extreme variety of the Apulian territory and of the Alta Murgia Park in particular, an invaluable resource of this part of Puglia.

«A park profoundly rich and varied in flavours, scents, smells and landscapes – recalled vice president Bruno – where diversity is at home. They range from the magnificent heights of Castel del Monte to the colorful depths of the Bauxite Quarries. A naturalistically suggestive landscape in which it is a must to get lost, immersing yourself in nature. “Biodiversa” celebrates 20 years of the Park and, if compared to that of a person, this is a very important age in life, that is, it is the moment of choice, of the orientation of one’s future. Well, the Park is also looking at its future: we are awaiting, in fact, the results of the Evaluation Commission of the Park’s proposal to become the 12th Geopark in Italy. A very important objective which once again reminds us how important it is to work with unity of purpose among all the participating municipalities, without pursuing sterile parochial logic. Living in the park is a true sharing exercise that “forces” us to think in terms of territories. The richness of the Alta Murgia Park – concluded Giovanna Bruno – means that it is an excellent driving force for green and sustainable tourism and for environmental policies. The Park is called to be an important link in the tourist and environmental chain not only of Puglia, but of the whole of Italy.”

In this immersive journey into Italian nature Andria is the protagonist: the peasant chef Pietro Zito is present and his cooking shows, the master craftsmen of the “Tutti giu per terra” association with traditional baskets and embroidery, and finally with the main products of the territory , such as the “burrata di Andria” with the PGI consortium and the oil from the Rasciatano company.