The amazing Gravina di Puglia is perched on the edge of a ravine, in the Western Murgia, an area dotted with puli and gravine (ravines) on the border between Puglia and Basilicata.
The town centre of Gravina in Puglia has a hidden part: under the inhabited area, there is a well-kept underground world, with tunnels, cellars, stone churches, granaries, seventeenth century ovens. From piazza Benedetto XIII leave the steps which lead to the oldest neighbourhoods, amid medieval houses and stone churches, among which the one dedicated to the patron saint, San Michele. The discovering of the rock civilization of Gravina continues inside the Pomarici Santomasi Museum, which keeps important finds, such as frescos of the Stone Crypt of San Vito Vecchio. Gravina is part of the Alta Murgia National Park.
In fact, most of the town is located on one of the sides of the ravine, more than 100 metres deep. The countryside, dotted with rocks having different shapes, has two archaeological sites, Collina Petramagna and Padre Eterno, with ruins of temples, walls and floors of ancient buildings and several pieces of pottery.
The ruins of the Swabian Castle seem to be on the edge of a hill, perched on a promontory far away from the town centre, while the Church Madonna delle Grazie and the Basilica Cattedrale, on the edge of a crevasse, with a wonderful view on the ravine, are closer. Houses, caves, and frescoed churches populate the deep ravine, providing a spectacular and fascinating sight.
MUNICIPALITY OF GROTTAGLIE
Grottaglie is located in the Salento peninsula, dividing the Adriatic sea from Ionian sea. Grottaglie is placed on the top of a hill in the territory of the province of Taranto. It is about 20 Km far from Taranto with 32,000 inhabitants who live on a surface of about 100 km2.
Two are the most important economic sectors: agriculture – high quality white grapes are produced here – and ceramic handcraft works – represented in the old “area of Ceramics” made up of more than fifty workshops dug in the rock where highly appreciated ceramic artefacts are still produced.
Near the town, there is the airport “Marcello Arlotta”and the Hi-Tech industry of the “Alenia Aeronautics” group which produce fuselages for the 787 Boeing airplanes.
In the town there are many important historical buildings. Many of these are dated back to the XIVth century such as: the Bishop’s Castle, where you can find the Museum of Ceramics, and the Collegiate Church; The Hermitage in St Mary in Campitelli (IX century) , the Church of Carmine (XVI century); The Sanctuary of St. Francesco de’ Geronimo – the Saint born in Grottaglie and Patron of the town; The Church of St. Francesco di Paola (XIX century) and the old Sanctuary of the Madonna di Mutata.
UNIVERSUS CSEI –Training and Innovation University Consortium
Universus is a Consortium founded in 1975 and boasts a storied history working on international projects. Its founding even predates the Politecnico of Bari, one of the charter members, by 15 years. Its success comes from the strong synergies between the professors, experts, and researchers who heavily contribute to the sharing of knowledge, and to the creation of an innovative entrepreneurship culture which is unique to the region. Universus relies on a large network of like-minded professionals who see innovation as vital to enhancing the creation and management of both 1) new tools, skills and indicators, and 2) models for local and regional economic development. The success of this process points the way to a successful, scalable, portable model that can be replicated. Enhancing the knowledge transfer and promoting a dialogue culture throughout the Mediterranean area is part of its mission, becoming hub of innovation and training.
MUNICIPALITY OF AIGIALEIA
Municipality of Aigialeia, is a First Instance Local Government Organization and operates as a legal entity governed by public law. It has been established by law of Kallikratis (2010), through the merger of the pre-existing municipalities of Aigeira, Aigio, Akrata, Diakopto, Erineos and Simpoliteia. The staff employed in any employment relationship in the Town Hall is 280.
Geographically, it belongs to the Region of West Greece and occupies the northeast and part of the eastern part of Achaia. The seat of the municipality is Aigio, the second larger city of Achaia and a port town, known as the ‘balcony of the Corinth Gulf’.
The area of the municipality is 729.42 sq. Km. and its population reaches the 49,872 citizens, according to the 2011 census.
It constitutes an area of great historical, cultural, environmental, religious interest and worth a visit all the seasons of the year.
ERFC, REGIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR CO-OPERATION
ERFC, taking stock from a host of EU networks of excellence, in which its founders participated or initiated, is established in a converge region (Western Greece), with an ever-expanding network of offices in other Greek & EU Regions.
ERFC, aims at serving as a best example of bottom up Institution Building effort towards EU Integration and regional competitiveness, playing a key role, contributing in the implementation of EU Regulations and Directives through its participation in EU funded networks & projects, at interregional level. Mainstreaming EU project recommendations into National & Regional policies is its ultimate goal.
Territorial Co-operation is enhanced as ERFC’s members and associates are key EU Integration executive persons, Public Bodies, Academic Institutions and Civil Societies, primarily from EU but also from the rest of the word, securing the creation of economies of scale.
Further structuring of ERFC is expected to take place in the frame of EGTC _ European Grouping for Territorial Co-operation.