Just after leaving the village, the arrows lead me to the Lipu Gravina Oasis of Laterza where the route of the Via Ellenica overlaps with path number 3 of the oasis. The path is therefore doubly marked and continues on flat ground, parallel to the edge of the gravina, offering incredible views of the canyon and breathtaking views.

After less than a couple of hours you arrive at the enormous basins of the water treatment plant, where you can also enter to get water (you must ring from the large entrance gate). Large pipes and flow tanks are flanked and crossed several times throughout the entire stage.
The last part of the stage before Castellaneta is inside the forest; the path remains always quite easy, but an arachnophobe might have some problems due to the continuous and massive presence of spiders lying in wait on their webs, which they weave between the branches from one side to the other of the path.

In Castellaneta the main attraction is the museum dedicated to Rodolfo Valentino, which is located right in the center in what was once a convent of nuns (cost: 3.50€ including video and guided tour among posters, comics, original memorabilia and the reconstruction of the set of one of his films).

I know Francesco, the stage coordinator who manages the Japp’ca Japp’ca hostel and who takes me on a tour of the Cathedral and a scenic point from which you can see how the town, including the church, is built balancing on the edge of the gravina.

I abandon the carnivorous diet with dinner at Pepe Nero, a pizzeria and central restaurant with good prices and varied menu.