TOWN PINE FOREST
This natural hollow in the earth, formed by geographical elements and rain, was once where water from the surrounding hills collected, and was vital to the inhabitants of Grumo. They would come here to collect water for their homes and for their animals and every drop counted, especially in the long summer months when Puglia was scorched by the relentless sun. In the 18th century, the town council decided to transform this natural reservoir which was restored in 1783 thanks to Vincenzo Scippa, an influential citizen of Grumo, under the supervision of the mayor Alessandro Sernia. A commemorative plaque, which unfortunately no longer exists, celebrated this transformation as a gift to the community, an action to prevent drought and guarantee water for everyone. Decades passed and history changed the town: after the war, Grumo was in the midst of rebuilding and work was scarce.
Trains departed full of men and women with cardboard suitcases and dreams: they travelled to Bari and from there to the north of Italy or further afield still, leaving their homes, their towns and their families. In 1956, the council decided to transform the reservoir into a green space for the town. One kilometre outside the town, the shade of tall pines and palm trees created an oasis of tranquillity, and the Pineta Comunale was born. Offering quiet paths, benches, spaces for children to play and for elderly people to rest, the space became a refuge and a place to enjoy nature. the memory of a town struggling with drought. When Pope John Paul II died, the community of Grumo wished to dedicate the park to the Polish Pope, a figure who left an indelible mark in the hearts of the faithful and the history of the country.