:: Antica Masseria Fontana Murata

The Ancient Farmhouse Fontana Murata is set in surroundings steeped in history and tradition and was an ancient settlement, whose origins date back to the Arab occupation.
In this place called fons muratus there was an Arab farm, which existed until the end of the 14th century and was known as Fontana Murata. Not far away, another farm called Kassaro, of which all trace was lost during the 12th century, presupposes an inhabitation of a certain importance.
Fons muratus (which took its name from the spring that was found there) was a halfway house and "house of pleasure" and the favoured place of the inhabitants of Kassaro.
Among the ruins still visible in the second half of 1800 numerous finds were discovered, some very valuable, which bear witness to the hypotheses put forward.
In 1398 the half house of Fontana Murata was granted as barony to the Chiaramante family, then transferred to the Mancadas, the Ventimiglias and in 1705 to the Braciforti, then to Barone Paino and finally in 1930 it became property of Cosimo Gioia. Under his guidance an agricultural company developed which still today serves as a point of reference for research, technology, experimentation and agriculture.