Walk 2 - Canale di Pirro & Acquedotto walking and hiking route

Walk Instructions

Like the 'HPB Coreggia: The Acquedotto Pugliese & the Canale di Pirro' walk, this walk is based on the Coreggia stretch of the Acquedotto Pugliese, but leads down to explore the valley of the Canale di Pirro, before climbing back up to the aqueduct. It is a circular walk of 8km, starting on the SP77 where there is parking by a large sign describing the Strada del Olio Viedulive (WP82) [Point 1 on the above mentioned map and on map]. Return along the initial part of Walk 1 route from Point 2 back to Point 1. Keen walkers may start from HPB following the route of Walk 1 to Point 1, and return the same way.

The outward stretch of Walk 2 could be incorporated into the previous walk as an alternative longer route between Points 1 and 2.

The circular walk

Having parked near the Strada del Olio sign, we cross the main road and head for a small road sloping down to the left below the crash barrier, just to the left of the road to Santa Croce.

After a few metres the tarmac gives way to gravel and runs between hedges, small trees, and sloping fields. After 300m the track forks (WP83). We take the right fork. The surface may once have been tarmac, but it is breaking up and becomes a gravel track as we go uphill.

At the top of the hill (WP123) the view opens out across the valley, with trees to the left and buildings on the outskirts of Fasano ahead. In the fields to the left is a large rusty cylinder, possibly a surplus part of the aqueduct! We go downhill to a T junction at the aqueduct, marked by the black and yellow aqueduct gates (WP124, 600m from the fork). We turn right along the course of the aqueduct (south east), ignoring the private property signs, and in 200m meet another set of gates with a road to the right. We go straight ahead.

In 300m we will see an aquaduct tower house, and cross the bridge over a road below. The track bends round the hillside to the right, and we will see a small town below. After 600m we will meet another tower and a set of gates (WP125). Turn left down a steep stony track heading north east, passing a large poultry enclosure on the left. In 500m we will come to a T junction at a road (WP126). We turn left here (north west). Follow this road through a peaceful rural landscape, with houses and farms dotting the route. In 800m the road bends right as a road from Ianella San Marco joins it from the left. Shortly after, we pass a shrine on the right and 50m later, turn left onto a track, with a vineyard on the right (WP127). We head west north west, parallel to a line of pylons on the left, and beyond that the wooded hillside that conceals the line of the aqueduct.

The track here runs straight along the flat valley, between vineyards and hayfields. After 500m we pass a memorial on the right and soon, up amongst the wooded slopes to the left, spot an aqueduct bridge.

500m after the memorial, we pass a large old farm building on the right, and the track narrows. In another 200m the track bends half-left, with views across to the woods to the right. In another 200m we reach a T junction with another track (WP128). Turn right (north) uphill, passing an orchard on the left. In 300m (WP129) we turn left onto a track (west), which then bends left past a gate and leads us down into the valley bottom (WP130). As we descend we can see the track, between walls, starting to climb up the other side of the valley. We ignore a track off to the right as you pass under the power lines.

200m after the power lines,we pass a rusty barrier and the track bends right (west, WP131). The track narrows to a single person-width, and climbs steeply for 400m to join the aqueduct (WP132). We turn sharp left (east south east) onto the aqueduct track [Point 2], with a good view down over the valley that we have just traversed. After following the aqueduct path for 900m, we cross the bridge (WP133) that we saw from below, and can make out the large farm building we passed in the valley bottom.

We continue for another 1km along the aqueduct track, cross another bridge (WP85) after which bend right to WP84, until we reach the fork at which we turned right near the beginning of the walk (WP83). We can now retrace our steps back to rejoin the main road at Point 1.

Disclaimer: This route was correct at time of writing. However, alterations can happen if development or boundary changes occur, and there is no guarantee of permanent access. These walks have been published for use by site visitors on the understanding that neither HPB Management Limited nor any other person connected with Holiday Property Bond is responsible for the safety or wellbeing of those following the routes as described. It is walkers' own responsibility to be adequately prepared and equipped for the ‎level of walk and the weather conditions and to assess the safety and accessibility of the walk.