You do not often be accompanied in the visit to a place, however wonderful and candidate among the “places of the heart” of the FAI (Italian Environment Fund), by whom within those walls there was even born!
Murgese horse Museum at Masseria Galeone
The place, charming and surrounded by olive trees, fragni and trulli of Martina Franca’s countryside, is the Masseria Galeone place fixed of UTB (Territorial Office for Biodiversity), as well as school of the CFS riding, horse breeding and seat of the murgese horse Museum.
Who accompanies us is Dr. Vito Ricci, who for twenty-six years as a veterinarian takes care of these beautiful horses from the black and shiny coat. But for Dr. Ricci it was a return, since he here, in the room on the first floor which now houses the hall for meetings and conferences, was born and spent his early childhood.
This news gave a great charm to the tour of the place, which captures from the very beginning and since the name. Galeone infact comes from galere or galee or galeoni, large warships and rowing shark form used in the sixteenth century by the Venetians. The fragno wood, very common tree in these areas, it was ideal for the construction of Galeoni and was used by the Venetians who settled in this area, where now stands the demesne. After the expulsion of the Venetians, in the late sixteenth century Galeone became the property of the Church and the farm was granted to some busy families and was used for raising cattle. Since the 70 is then assigned to the State Forestry Department as the site of the riding school, with 40 beds, kitchen and canteen.
Tells us the story of the great complex of trulli and a large two-story building, the collaborator head Girolamo Moschetti, which takes us to the discovery of the horse murgese guiding us among the six halls of MuMur-educational museum Murgese horse, with over 100 meters educational panels, images and video stations, running for three years and can be visited by appointment. First museum of its kind in Italy offers a new approach to the knowledge of the horse in general and race Murgese in particular. The museum path is a journey that, from immemorial time to the present day, traces the evolution of the horse leading the visitor to the first evidence of Murgese race. Once the harness, it’s time to go to the stables and get to know these extraordinary animals soft-eyed and the pitch-colored mantle. At the farm are sixty horses, while the mares are housed in another structure in Gorgofreddo.
It’s ‘nice to get closer and gently caressing their face, watching them as they walk imagining protagonists of many adventures of the past. According to some, the first samples were taken in Puglia by Frederick II. Then the Venetians, began to cross their mares which were so jealous, called “lupifere”, with the stallions of the Aragonese kings. But it is in 1556 that begins the true story of Murgese, due to two members of the Acquaviva d’Aragona family, Count Andrea Matteo and his son Giulio Antonio IV, who in their seals culled this morello horse from considerable strength that, centuries later, it was also popular with brigands becoming once again the protagonist in the story.
Today, thanks to their extraordinary athleticism, high intelligence and high versatility the C.F.S uses them to carry out patrols in the Nature Reserves and National Parks of various Italian regions. They are also very robust and have a good life in the open air, in summer finding rest in the shade of the majestic old oak trees in winter are repaired in coppice forests from wind and frequent frosts.
Moschetti explains that their strong limbs with perfect aplomb and hard hooves are one of the most important characteristics of this race in the past was not even strike. Plus they are very resistant to diseases and their strong and thick skin protects them from insect bites and scratches of the undergrowth.
The method used with these horses here at the Masseria Gleone is the sweet stud it is to use, during training, the game to educate them in the lead but also to not be afraid of the sounds and confusion, establishing a relationship based on trust.
We should visit the Masseria Galeone to make the acquaintance of one of the most beautiful horses, but especially for a closer look and cross their sweet and lively eyes that express at the same time pride and good nature.
Masseria Galeone (riding school CFS) – c.da Curcio, Martina Franca
Timetable and opening days: guided tours are to be agreed with the CFS by contacting the Regional Office Biodiversity in Martina Franca (TA) in Via Alcide de Gasperi, 3
Tel +39 080 4306471 – utb.martinafranca@corpoforestale.it
Stunning horses… magnificent. Seem to be as robust and as well versatile for different disciplines and climates as they are beautiful. My sister has moved to the Bari area from Canada. She is only 70 km north. I have asked her to see if she can visit the museum in the future and send some photos. The museum ranch has beautiful architecture and an amazing setting.
Masseria Galeone is a cozy place and the Murgesi are wonderful horses! We strongly recommend the visit 😉