The farmhouse “il Pino Grande”, located at 4km from Castel del Monte (del Monte Castle) in Alta Murgia National Park, is part of the ancient farmhouses complex called “Citulo”, at the foot of Mount Savignano (653mt) and Mount Caccia (679mt), Puglia highest peaks, excluding Gargano and Daunia areas..

Last decades archaeological excavations, which have been carried out mainly in the neighbouring area of “s.Magno”, have found some graves dating back to the beginning of the iron era (X-VIII Century BC), while the finding of some coins and different crockery confirms the existence of farming and sheep breeding activities around the rural villages (vici), still existing in the late-ancient period (III Century A.D.).

With no doubt the heirs of those activity vocations are the numerous sheep folds and farmhouses (among them “Citulo” farmhouse) which are in this area.

More recently the land, which belonged to Carafa feudal lords, Dukes of Andria and Earls of Ruvo, after the state properties privatisation, passed in the hands of important persons or agricultural middle-class representatives, who built here very often their summer residences.
”Il Pino Grande” accomodation and farmhouse activity takes place in one of these farmhouses built in warm local stone, that are spread around the territory.

”Il Pino Grande” accomodation and farmhouse activity takes place in one of these farmhouses built in warm local stone, that are spread around the territory.
The building, which is “Citulo” farm most important and ancient one, following some recent restoration works, revealed the existence of an original structure, which was probably already enlarged during the Eighteenth Century and where some other buildings have been added during the years, until being actually transformed into a farmhouse and completed in 1859. Therefore it stands in the middle of a productive settling, which received about 300 temporary workers from March to November that, in addition to the cows, sheep and poultry breeding workers, followed the typical cultivations of this land, like vines, fit for sowings and almonds.