Via Appia/Appia Way - Stage 05 - Taranto to Massafra

This is the fifth stage of the Via Appia by foot, from the (unofficial stop) in Grottaglie to the harbour town of Taranto.

Link to Stage 04: http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=14856113
Link to Stage 06: http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=15220669

The track follows the Via Appia Antica loosely as it's not possible to hike the original route anymore. In large part because the old road have been upgraded over the centuries and is now a highway in some section or a main provincial road where cars are speeding by you. In other sections, the road is simply gone. Instead, I've searched for nice roads, a little away from any main roads where there is a lot less traffic (or none at all).

Between Taranto and Massafra, the SS7, which is also signed as the Via Appia, is a large secondary road that is not safe to for hiking, so with exception of a section of 1.5 km, this road is avoided. The first part of the SS7 runs through an industrial zone with a couple of viaducts that can not be safely followed on foot. Train tracks are running parallel to the SS7, making is more difficult to find nice tracks with safe crossing of the main road and the train tracks.

Due to the above, I decided to follow a different road, avoiding most of the SS7 while still making it an enjoyable walk.

The hike starts at the train station of Taranto. After around 2 km, you leave the outskirts of Taranto and come into the industrial zone. For the next 1.5 km, on the right side of the road, you'll see an old aqueduct that used to provide water to Taranto. Even though it's not in great shape, it's still a nice site.

After that, you'll see mostly a large industrial company on your left side until you finally get to the SS7 when your odometer reads 7.8 km.

Here you'll follow the SS7 for 1.5 km (on the right side of the road), the road has a wide shoulder so you should be safe from most traffic.

When you close to the next viaduct, the track takes you off the SS7 and leads you under the viaduct. From here you'll follow the riverbank for a bit until you get to a point where you can enter the (dry) riverbed easily and pass under the train tracks.

Immediately after the train tracks, you leave the riverbed and follow the road again. When your odometer reaches around 12.5 km, you'll notice a more modern, but broken, aqueduct along the road. You will see more of that today. It's the remains of an ingenious system to provide water to the various trees in the area. It was a build in a time before plastic pipes. At some places, you can see how they made point where the aqueduct passes under roads. It would be interesting to see it in operation.

Just before leaving this asphalted road, you have the opportunity to find a geocache.

When your odometer reaches 13.5 km, you'll leave the larger road and follow a dirt track through the fields. Along the way, you'll see plenty of olive and orange trees as well as some vineyards.

When your odometer reaches 19 km, you'll cross the track tracks again and you'll get into the outskirts of Massafra. You're very close now to the train station. Nearby is a "Lidl" supermarket that is also open on Sundays and it has a bathroom.

If you have the time and the energy, it's worth to visit the historical centre of Massafra before heading to the train station. From the roundabout that you get to right after the train tracks, follow the road in northern direction and you'll get to the town.

Enjoy the trail end leave a comment. In particular if you know some interesting waypoints should be included or an alternate track that could/should be used. Any information is much appreciated.