Santa Croce Caves Festival

A festival between archaeology and nature

The Santa Croce Caves Festival is one of the most original events in the summer calendar of Bisceglie, a coastal town in the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, Puglia. Unlike traditional food and wine festivals, this event was born around a rare heritage: the prehistoric archaeological site of the Santa Croce Caves, one of the most significant karst complexes in Southern Italy.

A unique site in Europe

The caves, which open up along the provincial road connecting Bisceglie to Corato, hold traces of human presence ranging from the Middle Paleolithic to the Bronze Age. Here, in 1955, a femur attributed to Neanderthal man was discovered, considered one of the most important findings in Europe, along with remains of prehistoric animals, stone tools, and evidence from the Neolithic period. The site, rediscovered and promoted since the 1970s by the local Scout Group, is now at the center of an outreach program that combines research, memory, and the local area.

The event program

For a few days in August, the caves remain open for evening guided tours, accompanied by young scout guides. A rich and family-friendly program develops around these visits:

• Guided tours of the archaeological site in the evening hours, when the summer heat subsides;
• Workshops for children dedicated to prehistoric techniques, from clay modeling to making jewelry;
• Folk music, dances, and tribute concerts during the festival evenings;
• Book presentations and informative meetings on prehistory and Neanderthal man.

An identity-defining event for Bisceglie

Organized by the Bisceglie Scout Group with the patronage of the Municipality of Bisceglie, the festival represents much more than a summer party: it is a project to promote archaeological and natural heritage carried out by volunteers, often very young, who accompany visitors through tunnels and underground chambers. The event has reached and surpassed twenty-five editions, becoming a reference point for families, archaeology enthusiasts, and tourists who choose Puglia and the BAT coast in the summer.

Why attend

Those visiting Bisceglie in August will find in the Santa Croce Caves Festival an unusual opportunity to combine scientific outreach, popular tradition, and discovery of the territory. It is recommended to wear closed-toe shoes, which are mandatory for safe access to the underground route.