Santa Maria al Bagno: the Four Columns

Santa Maria al Bagno in Salento is a tourist location in the municipality of Nardò.

Its name refers to the Torre del Fiume built in the 16th century by Charles V and of which only the four towers now remain. The purpose of this construction was to protect the population given that the locality was located in a very strategic position for the supply of water and often became prey to pirate raids.

Santa Maria al Bagno is a charming and lively town during the summer season, however pleasant trips can also be made on beautiful spring and autumn days.

The beach and the sea of Santa Maria al Bagno

The beach of Santa Maria al Bagno is characterized by sandy stretches, ideal for a holiday with children, and rockier coasts, perfect for those who love wild landscapes. Here you can find everything you need to spend a relaxing holiday: equipped beaches, bars, restaurants, etc. Also unmissable are boat excursions (which can be booked in one of the many agencies) to admire the beauty of the entire coast.

You will certainly notice the Montagna Spaccata, so called because it was split during the excavations carried out in the cliff to create the road connecting Santa Maria al Bagno and Lido Conchiglie. It is right here that all snorkeling lovers will be able to admire many colorful fish.

What to see

• Anyone who spends their holidays here will naturally be able to notice the remaining Four Columns of the ancient Torre del Fiume. It is a very suggestive place which, after the restoration which took place between the 60s and 70s, has become the main destination for tourists. Over time this has also become the location for important concerts such as those by Domenico Modugno, Adriano Celentano and Ray Charles.

• For all history lovers, a pleasant discovery is knowing that the Museum of Memory and Hospitality was inaugurated in the town in 2009 and houses evidence of World War II and the persecution of the Jews by the Nazis, such as the famous murals of Zivi Miller.

• Not far from the town, it’s possible to admire the eclectic Villas of the Cenate which are located along the road that leads to Nardò. These are 19th century villas in which it is possible to find architectural and artistic elements of different styles (hence the term Eclecticism).

• For a different day to spend with your children, the Salento Aquarium is unmissable to discover all the secrets of the underwater world.

Events

The favorable climate of Santa Maria al Bagno makes it a pleasant place to spend your September holidays and, if you happen to find yourself in the small village in this month, it will be very suggestive to take part in the Patronal Festivals in honor of Santa Maria on 12 September. On this occasion, a characteristic procession takes place at sea and festivals are organized to taste the typical dishes.

A few days later, from 16 to 19 September, the festival in honor of San Giuseppe da Copertino is held. During the celebrations the village lights up with splendid lights and fireworks.

How to get to Santa Maria al Bagno

• By car: take the A14 to Bari, then take the SS16 towards Lecce. Proceed for approximately 25 km along the SS101 until the Galatone exit. Take Santa Maria al Bagno and finally the SP90.
• By train: from any city in Italy take a train to Lecce. Once you arrive in the capital, simply take a bus to reach Santa Maria al Bagno (alternatively, you can take a train to Nardò).
• By plane: arrive at Brindisi Airport, then take a train or bus to Lecce and from there move towards Santa Maria al Bagno in one of the two ways seen above.

An irresistible combination of history and magic, palaces and churches, monasteries and convents will welcome you in Lecce also called the “Florence of the South“. The origins of the city date back to the age of the Messapians, but it developed in the Roman age. Famous for the baroque style as well as the gastronomic specialties that characterize it, it is a place loved by tourists who visit Puglia. In addition to its beauty, Lecce can count on its proximity to other very famous places in Salento. In fact, renowned beaches of inestimable beauty are found here where the protagonists are expanses of white sand, wild cliffs and crystal clear waters.

Historic center of Lecce

Accessing the historic center of Lecce is an experience that leaves you speechless: just cross one of the three “gates” that lead to the heart of the city and specifically Porta Napoli, Porta San Biagio or Porta Rudiae.
Walking in the historic center you will have the impression of walking in a museum: a succession of buildings, narrow streets, churches and monuments on whose facades Lecce stone stands out will make you fall in love with this city.
First of all, the Basilica of Santa Croce with its magnificent rose window is the most emblematic example of Lecce baroque. Next to this, the former Celestine Convent, continuing with countless Greek churches and various museums (“Sigismondo Castromediano”, the Cartapesta one and the Diocesan one).

Proceeding through the intricate streets, along Via Palmieri, you can admire the Paisiello Theater up to the entrance to Piazza Duomo. Here is the Cathedral dedicated to Maria SS. Assunta with its sumptuous interiors decorated in Baroque style with stucco, marble and beautiful paintings.

Leaving Piazza Duomo to the left, you can reach the other part of the city (Porta Rudiae) while on the right you enter Baroque Lecce.
Along the way you can appreciate the Church of Sant’Irene, bars, restaurants, souvenir shops and bookshops, until you reach the beautiful Piazza Sant’Oronzo, dedicated to the patron saint of Lecce.

In the center of the square the city symbol, the “Lupa” (She-Wolf) is depicted together with an holm oak tree. The toponym Lupiae recalls the she-wolf, from which Lecce was born, while in contemporary Lecce refers to the holm-oak tree, which would have offered shelter to the same she-wolf. The holm oak is, in fact, a characteristic tree of the Terra d’Otranto.
It is also impossible not to notice the magnificent Roman Amphitheater built in the 2nd century AD, where shows and games took place. The theater was destroyed at the beginning of the 20th century due to some earthquakes and today it’s only visible in part. However, it manages to give a very good idea of what it meant in the past for the citizens of Lecce who enjoyed the games here.

Shopping street

After Piazza Sant’Oronzo, Via Libertini and Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the main axes of the historic city that connect Porta Rudiae to Piazza S.Oronzo, find their natural continuation in Via Salvatore Trinchese, the walking and shopping street preferred by the people of Lecce.
In fact, numerous shops of the most well-known commercial distribution chains (Zara, Bershka, Calzedonia etc.) and more are found here. Along the road there are in fact numerous bars, ice cream parlors and pastry shops, among which the famous Natale pastry shop stands out, considered by many to be the best in the city.
The Ex Banco di Napoli, now home to the “Banco Lounge Bar” after the restoration, offers a restaurant area and a rooftop bar on the garden terrace, from which you can enjoy an unprecedented view of the city.
Along the shopping street there are also two important theaters: the “Politeama Greco” theater, where prose shows, musicals, ballets and concerts take place and further on the Apollo Theater, recently returned to quality shows after thirty years of oblivion.
You will immediately notice the end of this street once you reach Piazza Mazzini, famous for its fountain. Here, during holidays and festivals, the municipal administration usually sets up stands or rides for children. On normal days, it represents a place for meeting and socializing thanks to the presence of numerous benches where kids stop to chat.

Nightlife

The fulcrum of Lecce’s social life, however, is found in Piazza Sant’Oronzo and in the adjacent Piazzetta di Santa Chiara. It is precisely in this little square that there are, next to each other, numerous cocktail bars where kids love to hang out until late at night sipping drinks: the Alibi Creative Pub or the Urban Cafè are just a few examples. Another place that is super popular with residents but a little more “hidden”, is Quanto Basta. His presence, however, is well marked by the crowd of kids sitting outside the venue on the many steps of the surrounding houses.
Even in Piazza Sant’Oronzo the nightlife is felt thanks to the presence of Bar Martinucci and Caffé Alvino, considered the “kings of pasticciotto”. Despite the presence of numerous seats, many young people prefer to sip their drinks sitting on the steps of the Santa Maria delle Grazie Church next door and admire the view of the beautiful Roman amphitheatre.

Typical products

As anticipated, the “pasticciotto leccese” is a must in this city and you cannot fail to taste it in one of the many pastry shops in the city. According to certain sources, however, the pasticciotto was invented in Galatina, a small town not far from Lecce by the hands of the pastry chef Andrea Ascalone, way back in 1745, from whom the famous pastry shop takes its name.
In Lecce, the addresses worth mentioning are the aforementioned Bar Martinucci, Caffé Alvino, Pasticceria L’Incontro and Pasticceria Natale.
To accompany the famous dessert, you cannot miss the Caffè Leccese, a cold coffee with almond milk typical of the Salento areas.

Moving on to the “savoury”, some typical products are:

• puccia salentina, a typical bread from Puglia, crunchy on the outside and empty on the inside. It si ideal for stuffing with sausages, cheeses and condiments in oil (mushrooms, peppers, aubergines);
• rustico Leccese, a delicious disc of puff pastry filled with tomato, mozzarella and bechamel;
• the Salento frisa, a sort of rounded loaf of hard bread (indeed, very hard), cut horizontally into two discs. Each half is called “frisa” and before eating it you must immerse it in water for a few seconds to soften it and then season it with salt, cherry tomatoes and oregano;
• the maritati leccesi, union (hence “maritati”) of two famous typical Apulian pasta shapes: orecchiette and maccheroncini. These are very often prepared at home and seasoned with turnip tops, tomato sauce or with sausage and frierielli.

Events in Lecce

The festival par excellence in Lecce is undoubtedly the one dedicated to the Patron Saint: Sant’Oronzo (together with his co-patrons San Giusto and San Fortunato). Every year, on 24, 25 and 26 August, Lecce celebrates with shows, initiatives and events capable of involving the entire population and beyond.
The celebrations are officially inaugurated on the afternoon of August 24, with the faithful gathering in Piazza Duomo and starting the long procession. The procession ends with the musical band and fireworks, after which the big party begins. For three days in a row, a series of shows, concerts and theatrical performances as well as gastronomic celebrations take place.

This great event attracts many tourists who choose Puglia as a destination for their holidays in the summer period. Despite this, regardless of the period, Lecce will always have something to offer its visitors at any time of the year.

Torre dell’Orso is a seaside resort in the Melendugno marina, in the province of Lecce. Its beaches are sandy and the sea is crystal clear: the right place to spend your summer holidays.

The inlet of about 800 meters is bordered by two cliffs: in the southern area a watercourse called Brunese flows into it and there is the San Cristoforo cave in which ancient graffiti was found.

The two stacks that can be seen to the south of the bay are The Two Sisters, to which a legend is linked from which they take their name. It is said that two sisters stopped to dive from this cliff but were never able to re-emerge from the water. The Gods, moved with compassion, in memory of the sisters, transformed them into the two sea stacks.

The historic center

Known in the locality is the Church of SS. Guardian Angels, located in Piazza D’Acquisto, which was inaugurated on 24 July 1960 and 23 January 1990, at the behest of the Metropolitan Bishop of Lecce, Msgr. Cosmo Francesco Ruppi. Inside the Church there is the statue of the Madonna “Stella Maris”, whose feast falls on the first Sunday of August.

Seaside locations near Torre dell’Orso

• Nearby Torre dell’Orso there are other very famous towns and seaside locations in Salento such as San Foca. Here you can find different beaches that satisfy everyone’s tastes: those who want tranquility and peace can relax on the Torre Specchia Ruggeri beach or on the Orange beach or “Li Marangi“, or on the Brigantini beach, with its isolated sea stacks such as the rock of the eight” (so called because of its shape which resembles an 8 written horizontally). For the more adventurous, the best is the beach of the Asce islands, where you can go snorkelling, kitesurfing, rod fishing and so on.

• Also worth visiting is San Foca Tower of the same name, built in 1568 by the master Antonio Saponaro of Lecce, which had the function of a lookout against Turkish invasions.

• Another location close to Torre dell’Orso is Roca Vecchia, known above all for the two Poesia caves, karst caves whose roofs have collapsed, where you can swim or enjoy diving. In Roca Vecchia you can also visit the Sanctuary of Maria Santissima delle Grazie or crypt of Roca Vecchia, which has unknown origins. It was built on the site of an ancient rock hypogeum or an ancient Byzantine cave. The basement structure has 3 naves, each with three columns. Below it there is a cave of karst origin.

• Again, not very far from Torre dell’Orso there is Torre Sant’Andrea, a small corner of paradise where there are no bathing establishments. The surrounding water is crystal clear and the scenery that extends all around is spectacular: to the right and left of the beach, there are white rocks overlooking the sea which take the name of “Faraglioni di Sant’Andrea”.

Other nearby locations: Lecce

You cannot miss a visit to Lecce, the baroque city in Southern Italy with many beauties to discover. The beating heart of the city, however, is Piazza Sant’Oronzo, near which stands the Castle commissioned by King Charles V in 1539. Then there is the city’s Cathedral which stands in the square of the same name, and is the fulcrum of the religious life of the city with the Cathedral dedicated to Maria SS. Assunta which was built in 1144 and renovated in 1230. Not to be missed, another symbol of religiosity, is the Basilica of Santa Croce with the adjacent Convent of the Celestines.

Lecce is the city not to be missed during your stay in Salento, with all its history, its art, its religiosity. Also worth visiting to get away from the sea and become “tourists”. And for lunch or dinner, there is nothing better than trying all the delicacies that the city has to offer such as rustico Leccese, pasticciotto or simply drinking a famous coffee with ice.

How to reach Torre dell’Orso

To reach the beautiful location of the Melendugno marina you can consider using your own vehicle (car or motorbike) or public transport.

But certainly the fastest way to reach it is a transfer to Torre dell’Orso, which eliminates the worry of having to find parking or being subject to public transport timetables.

A shuttle to Torre dell’Orso is also the ideal way to return to your accommodation (b&b, hotel, holiday home) after a visit to Lecce or one of the beautiful beaches in the surrounding towns.

Although Torre dell’Orso is not a large town, in summer it becomes a very lively town with a nightlife that also attracts many young people but which also does not displease families or older people. You can therefore stay here without a car, even without having to worry about where to park it.

Sant’Isidoro is a town in the municipality of Nardò in the province of Lecce. Especially in summer this village becomes more populated due to its enchanting beaches and the suggestive sixteenth-century tower that overlooks a long sandy expanse.

The beaches

Sant’Isidoro beaches are characterized by clear waters, small islands that overlook the coast, and many coastal towers that overlook the cliffs (like the one that gives it its name).

The beaches that extend for about a kilometer in length are chosen above all by families with children or elderly people. “Fiascone” and “Lido dell’Ancora” are the most important ones. The stretches of free beach are limited but there are also various private structures or accommodation facilities such as tourist villages and campsites, as well as the most common commercial activities.

Just 2 km away, there is an underground cavity called “Palude del Capitano” (Captain’s Swamp) created by erosion. It is therefore a protected natural area of particular naturalistic and landscape interest, both for the coastal stretch, rich in vegetation, and for the seabed. These, thanks to the favorable climate and higher temperatures, in some places host various marine species unusual in the Mediterranean, such as some corals.

There is also no shortage of activities to do to spend your days such as trekking routes to discover the coastal towers of Torre Squillace which overlooks the beach, or Torre Sant’Isidoro which gives its name to the whole town.

A very fascinating nature walk is towards the south, from Torre Inserraglio, where the Porto Selvaggio Nature Reserve begins, a large pine forest overlooking a pristine stretch of sea, and the Palude del Capitano, of notable naturalistic interest for the avian fauna of migratory birds and the typical marsh vegetation.

The Sant’Isidoro Tower

The Sant’Isidoro Tower is one of the numerous coastal watchtowers in Salento built by Charles V in the 16th century to defend the territory from Saracen attacks. It is built with regular carparo blocks and is spread over three levels:

• the ground floor, without external access, which has a truncated pyramid structure with a square base
  
• the last two floors, which develop vertically, with a parallelepiped structure, and a stringcourse in the upper part. The string course has a series of corbels and a trapdoor on each side. The largest room is the one located on the first floor and from here you can reach both the ground floor, through a trap door, and the second floor, via a staircase built into a side wall.

To access it there is a single access or a staircase that leads to the first floor. The tower is state property and is used as a summer residence.

How to reach Sant’Isidoro

By car
Coming from the North, take the A14 motorway, exit Bari. Exit at Bari Nord, continue on the Bari – Brindisi – Lecce highway. From Lecce, take the ring road, then the exit for Gallipoli. From here continue on the coastal road S. Caterina – Porto Cesareo, until you reach Sant’Isidoro.

By train
With Trenitalia you can reach Salento along the Adriatic route (Milan – Bologna – Pescara – Foggia – Lecce) or via the Rome – Caserta – Foggia – Bari – Brindisi – Lecce route. Once you arrive in Lecce, you can rent a car, or use the FSE buses which will take you directly to Sant’Isidoro.

By plane
By plane you can reach Salento by stopping in Brindisi; here you can choose to wait for the bus that connects the airport to the center of Lecce or rent a car. If you choose the first option, you can continue to Sant’Isidoro using the FSE buses.

By shuttle or transfer
Another solution is the shuttle to Sant’Isidoro: economical and practical, it is an immediate and “worry-free” way to reach the town without having to worry about parking your car in a place that is taken over in the summer assaulted by many tourists. There are many nearby locations from which it is also possible to take a transfer to Sant’Isidoro.

Crystal clear waters, cliffs and majestic caves to be admired, breathtaking views, music and good food. All this and much more is Polignano a Mare, a beautiful Apulian town in the province of Bari. Whether you want to spend just one day, a weekend or more days, the city has a lot to offer not only for those who love relaxing by the sea but also for those who love nightlife, due to the many events and clubs that will satisfy everyone’s needs.

What to see

The historic center is one of the flagships of this village with influences from the Byzantine, Spanish and Arab eras which dominated the city. All lovers of walking will be able to get lost among the white streets, full of flowers and poems written on the walls, on the ground and on the doors by a poet who signs himself “Guido il Flaneur” which make the city even more romantic.

Wandering through the streets of the historic center, in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, you may come across the Clock Palace, still wound by hand today by a local lady. Unmissable, on the seafront dedicated to him, is the bronze statue portraying the great Italian singer-songwriter Domenico Modugno, born and raised here. The statue, created by the Argentine sculptor Hermann Mejer, is 3-meters-high and was inaugurated on 31 May 200. It will be unmissable to take photos together with this true “monument” of Italian song and the city. Polignano a Mare is also famous for the terraces from which to admire the beautiful landscape overlooking the sea and the cliff.

In the historic center there is also the Cathedral or the Mother Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo, inside which there is the Cappella del Presepe which preserves a nativity scene of 16th century sculptures by Stefano da Putignano and other works by the same artist such as the Pietà , the Madonna with Child and the statue of San Vito martyr.

A short distance from Polignano, there is the beautiful Abbey of San Vito, located on the sea, is a place not to be missed. Finally, the Pino Pascali Museum of Contemporary Art which houses the permanent collection of the artist Pino Pascali, originally from Polignano a Mare.

Finally, for trekking and nature lovers, there are paths you can follow on foot or by trekking, to discover uncontaminated and very fascinating places. Not far from the town, there is the Site of Santa Barbara, an ancient Neolithic settlement, the Site of Madonna di Grottole, characterized by caves inhabited in prehistoric times and the Torre Incina, a 17th century watchtower.

For those looking for nightlife, it is enough to know that in Polignano a Mare, especially in summer, the shops in the historic center remain open until late in the evening to the delight.

The caves and the sea of Polignano a Mare

The emblem of the city of Polignano a Mare is Lama Monachile: almost everyone will have come across at least one photograph that portrays this breathtaking landscape characterized by a small inlet of sand and water, set between two rock walls overlooking the sea. It is one of the most famous beaches in town, frequented in summer by many people. It will certainly be worth “facing” the confusion to take a bath in these crystal clear and unforgettable waters. This place, in summer, is also the protagonist of diving competitions or very cool musical events.

Continuing with the sandy beaches, towards the south, there is Oasi Cala Fetente, where it will be possible to rent deckchairs and umbrellas or relax on the shoreline, enjoying a cocktail or a good fish dish. One kilometer from here, there is Cala San Giovanni, a small cove characterized by a sandy beach in a setting of uncontaminated nature. Again, San Vito, famous for its Abbey and architectural beauties such as the Saracen Tower.

Other free sandy beaches are Porto Contessa and Porto Cavallo which lead to the tourist port. To reach it, it will be enough to take a short walk from the center of the town.

The coast of Polignano a Mare also has a lot to offer due to the presence of numerous caves that can be visited by boat. The tour last about two hours and allow you to admire the wonderful sea caves and swim in the crystal clear waters.

Among the most picturesque caves there are Grotta delle Rondinelle and Grotta Piana, frequented above all by lovers of photography and diving. Again, the Grotta Azzurra, smaller in size, particular for the play of light that is created here thanks to the alternating of sun and water.

What to eat

Polignano a Mare offers a complete experience to the traveler with a refined palate thanks to its typical cuisine based on fish and genuine products. The city is full of restaurants, trattorias and taverns where you can enjoy delicious traditional cuisine that goes well with more refined and modern gastronomy. Many of these places enjoy a breathtaking view of the sea, an added value when enjoying simple but unforgettable dishes.

As a quick snack, lunch to take to the beach or for your own aperitifs, you cannot miss the frise with cherry tomatoes, oil, salt and oregano, the delicious “Focaccia di Polignano” or the fish sandwiches. A typical dish of Bari cuisine that can also be enjoyed in Polignano a Mare is the famous rice, potatoes and mussels or, again, the prized raw seafood. There is no shortage of poor products such as the traditional broad beans and chicory or the most used vegetables in the cuisine of Polignano a Mare, i.e. the local carrots which have received the Slow Food presidium.

For your coffee break, try the special coffee prepared with sugar, lemon zest, cream and amaretto. Again, for “sweet” moments, the ice cream, really good in any ice cream shop or bar in Polignano.

How to reach Polignano a Mare

It is possible to reach Polignano a Mare with all means of transport:

• by plane, once you arrive at Bari Airport, you can move towards the town with a bus, train or by renting a car. Arriving in Brindisi, however, we recommend renting a car or booking a convenient transfer service.
• By train, it will be sufficient to arrive at Bari station and take a regional train from here.
• By bus, this solution is ideal when you have to reach Polignano a Mare from other cities in the province of Bari because, from other cities in Puglia or the rest of Italy, there are not many direct connections.
• By car, you will need to take the A2 Rome-Naples, then the A16 Naples-Canosa and finally the A14 for Bari. At this point, the exit to take is on the SS16 with the indication Polignano.

Basilicata is a region rich in beauties not only historical and cultural but also from a culinary and entertainment point of view. One of the most famous cities in the region is Matera, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993 and named European Capital of Culture 2019. Every year it attracts thousands of tourists who flock to admire the “Sassi di Matera“, the buildings made with this typical stone.

What to see in Matera

Matera’s Sassi are one of the most famous attractions of Matera: they are alleys, houses, churches, gardens, underground tunnels that make it similar to a beautiful nativity scene to be explored and photographed (with breathtaking beauty especially in the evening).

The Sassi are divided into two districts: Sasso Barisano, the largest district, full of shops, restaurants and hotels, and Sasso Caveoso, the oldest part. The city is also rich in rock churches and natural areas and there is also no shortage of museums or unmissable events to participate in.

A building worth visiting is Casa Noha, an ancient residence that belonged to a noble family and which today is a tourist information center or, again, the Cathedral of Matera, from which it is possible to admire the landscape of Sasso Barisano, which since 1627 has been dedicated to the Madonna della Bruna and Sant’Eustachio, protectors of the city. Inside, there are numerous treasures such as a Byzantine fresco representing the Madonna della Bruna with child, the Last Judgment, the wooden choir sculpted by Giovanni Tantino and the altarpiece “Virgin with Child and Saints” located on the main altar.

In addition to this church, there are many rock churches from the medieval era, that is, caves transformed into prayer centers in which it is possible to distinguish crypts, hermitages, basilicas and sanctuaries: in all, there are around 150 of those present in the territory of Matera such as the Church of San Pietro Barisano, the Church of Santa Lucia alle Malve, the Church of Santa Maria de Idris and many others all to be explored to relive the charm of the mysterious and ancient Matera

Another beautiful place to visit is the Palombaro which is located along the large cistern dug under Piazza Vittorio. It is possible to explore the rooms of the cistern with a tour at 17 meters deep so as to discover in detail the genius of this work of hydraulic engineering. It is also possible to visit the Musma Museum in Matera dedicated to contemporary sculpture from 1800 to today and which also houses the Vanni Schelwiller library which preserves over 5000 volumes donated by the widow of the well-known publisher or the Domenico Ridola National Archaeological Museum, the largest ancient of Basilicata with the relics donated by Doctor Domenico Ridola to the city.

To get a taste of the life of the shepherds of the past in Matera, in Vico Solitario it is possible to visit the Cave-House represented by a single room in which families of more than 10 people and animals once lived. Among the alleys of Matera it is also possible to come across shops where you can find local artisan products and buy beautiful souvenirs.

Not only art and history in beautiful Matera but also natural areas that can be explored by lovers of walking or trekking. Beautiful excursions can be carried out at the Murgia Materana Park, at the San Giuliano Regional Reserve or Colle Timmari.

And for those who love nightlife, Matera can satisfy all needs with its numerous places where you can taste delicious dishes or have an aperitif. Bars and clubs of the historic center which, especially during the summer, cheer up the guests with live music and DJ sets.

What to eat

Anyone who comes to visit Matera cannot miss the delicacies of the traditional cuisine or the typical products of the area. Matera culinary tradition is purely peasant and pastoral, rich in legumes, vegetables, cheeses (caciocavallo podolico, cacioricotta, salted pecorino and many others), meats and homemade pasta. Among the dishes to be tasted, in fact, you cannot miss the orecchiette with tomato sauce or with turnip tops or with mushrooms. All this to be accompanied with Matera IGP bread, a bread made exclusively with durum wheat semolina.

A meat-based dish is the pignata, made with mutton, vegetables, herbs, all cooked in terracotta pots in a wood oven or ciallèdd, a soup of potatoes, onions, herbs, eggs and turnips served with stale bread or crapiata, a dish based on legumes, wheat and potatoes. Again, typical poor but genuine dishes are broad beans and chicory or gnummiredd, i.e. rolls of lamb offal, liver, lung, heart and sweetbreads tied together by casing. These excellent traditional popular dishes can be accompanied by fine wines such as reds (Aglianico, Primitivo, Rosso Jonico) and whites (Greco and Moscato).

Among the local products to take home, there are sweet peppers called Cruschi peppers, typical of Basilicata. They are dried in the sun and fried, with the result of being very similar to chips, very crunchy. These peppers are often used to make fresh pasta dishes (such as orecchiette or strascinati) also accompanied by turnip greens.

And for those who love street food, you cannot miss the delicious focaccia made with durum wheat and cooked in a wood-fired oven, very often topped with fresh cherry tomatoes and olives, an ideal snack for those who want to eat and continue wandering among the stones.

As for desserts, the typical dry sweets made with almonds, nutmeg and cinnamon are the strazzate. There are also many ice cream parlors that offer artisanal ice creams with many flavors to try.

How to get to Matera

You can reach Matera in different ways:

• by plane, the closest airport is Bari-Palese (about 60 km away) from which you can reach the Matera by train or bus or car.
• By train, for those arriving from Bari, simply take the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane and reach Matera station in 80 minutes.
• By bus, there are several companies that comfortably reach the city of Matera from all over Italy.
• By car. Those coming from the Adriatic Coast need to follow the A14 motorway to Bari Nord. From here follow the state road 96 to Altamura and then the state road 99 to Matera. For those coming from the Tyrrhenian Coast, however, it is necessary to follow the Salerno-Reggio Calabria road until the exit for Sicignano. Then take the E847 up to Potenza and then take the state road 407 Basentana for Metaponto and finally the exit for Matera. Instead, for those coming from Salento, it is necessary to pass Taranto, then take the SS106 Ionica until the Matera exit.

Locorotondo is a small village in the Itria Valley, among the most beautiful in Puglia and Italy which, as the name suggests, has a typical circular plan where it is possible to admire the typical houses with sloping roofs called cummerse. The visitor can enjoy the tranquility of the alleys of the historic center, embellished with flowers and well maintained by the inhabitants of the town or, again, the beauty of the panoramic points to be photographed or the ancient churches to visit.

Last Christmas, the city recorded a record number of visitors who came to admire the beauty of the decorations that embellished the town. Locorotondo, in fact, has been so appreciated for its Christmas decorations that it has become one of the most photographed and posted villages on Instagram: a great victory for this small town which is still appreciated all year round by anyone who arrives there.

What to see in Locorotondo

The beauty of Locorotondo lies in the characteristic alleys where you can get lost and come across churches, particular houses with sloping roofs covered in limestone called chiancarelle, artisan workshops which refer to the popular traditions still alive in the town. One of the most important churches in Locorotondo is that of San Rocco, patron saint of the city who, according to tradition, ward off the plague.

Other churches to visit are the Church of Santa Maria Addolorata, the Church of Santa Maria Annunziata, the Minor Basilica of Saints Cosma and Damiano or, again, the Church of the Madonna della Greca and the Church in honor of San Giorgio. There is also no shortage of buildings of historical value such as Palazzo Morelli from the Baroque period, the Clock Tower and the Town Hall where the civic library is currently located. It is also possible to stop and visit the oldest trullo in Puglia, dating back to 1509, in the Marziolla district or admire a breathtaking view of the valley in the Serafino district.

In the evening, you can spend pleasant moments with your friends or loved ones at one of the numerous cocktail bars or pubs which, especially in summer, enliven the historic center with events, live music and DJ sets.

Traditions and curiosities of Locorotondo

Popular traditions are deeply felt in Locorotondo: in April the festival in honor of San Giorgio Martire takes place with the “Gift Ceremony” i.e. the handing over of the keys to the city by the Mayor to the Saint or, again, the festival in honor of San Rocco which takes place in August with a very fascinating event called Diéne, that is, processions of musical bands through the historic center singing typical folklore songs. The party is also accompanied by fireworks displays, illuminations and large meat-based feasts.

Furthermore, on the first Sunday of August, the Holy Family is celebrated and on the 15th of August, the procession of Santa Maria Assunta. Other heartfelt religious festivals are the one which takes place on the third Sunday of September, the Feast of the Crucifix and, in October, the festival dedicated to San Marco and the patronal festivals of Saints Cosma and Damiano and of the Madonna della Catena.

Not only traditions but also cinema: several films have been shot among the beautiful streets of Locorotondo such as “Mio cognato” with Sergio Rubini, “Così è la vita” with Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo and “Baciami piccina” with Vincenzo Salemme.

What to eat

Locorotondo offers a culinary experience made up of typical products and traditional popular dishes but there is also no shortage of excellent wine products such as “Bianco Locorotondo DOC“, a wine that is well suited to appetizers but also to fish-based dishes.

Among the excellent gastronomy products, used to create unique dishes, there is meat such as lamb tripe rolls (gnumerèdde suffuchète) tied with animal intestines and cooked in typical terracotta pans; again, orecchiette with turnip greens or another handmade pasta with durum wheat semolina and eggs called tridd, accompanied by pecorino cheese and chopped parsley with turkey broth. There is no shortage of simple and genuine dishes such as broad beans and chicory (macco with vegetables), i.e. white broad beans cooked in the pignata and beaten with olive oil to make a puree, accompanied by chicory. Again, focacce, grilled meat or cutlet with mozzarella and mushrooms (the cottie).

How to reach Locorotondo

The beautiful village of Locorotondo can be reached by all means of transport:

• by plane, the closest airports are Bari Palese (about 75 km away) and Brindisi-Casale (about 55 km away): from here it will be possible, once you reach the station, to travel by train, bus or renting a car.
• by train, from Bari it will be sufficient to reach Fasano station with Ferrovie dello Stato and then take the bus to Locorotondo or take the Ferrovia Sud-Est to Locorotondo station. For those arriving from Taranto, it will be sufficient to take the South-East Railways to Locorotondo station; finally, for those arriving from Lecce-Brindisi, via the State Railways, it is necessary to reach the Fasano station and from here continue by bus to the town.
• by car, from Bari there are two alternatives: either take the SS16 with the Fasano exit or the SS100 with the Turi exit and then the SS172 (Statale dei Trulli). If you come from Taranto, however, you will need to take the Statale 172 Dir. while from Lecce-Brindisi take the SS378 with the Fasano exit and then take the 172 Dir.

Gravina in Puglia is a town in the Alta Murgia, in the province of Bari, famous not only because it was the birthplace of Pope Benedict XIII but also for its naturalistic, artistic and historical beauties which attract thousands of tourists every year. The territory, in fact, it is rich in rocky environments and mysterious underground landscapes.

The municipality is located a short distance from Matera, in Basilicata and from Altamura, a city famous for its bread.

What to see in Gravina in Puglia

Unmissable when you go to Gravina in Puglia is the canyon, a set of ravines, inlets formed thanks to the action of water over the centuries and the rock sites, evidence of the settlements that have alternated in the territory over time. Some of these sites are very large such as the Cave of the Seven Chambers and there are around eighty in total..

The churches such as the crypt of San Vito Vecchio, the sanctuary of the Madonna della Stella and the church of San Michele delle cave are also of notable historical and architectural value. The two sides of Gravina are connected by the aqueduct bridge built at the end of the 17th century, a 40 meter high structure that extends for 90 metres, which collapsed in 1722 due to an earthquake and was then rebuilt in various eras. If you continue towards the east, you arrive at the medieval bastion, the only evidence of what was the defensive wall of the town.

If you continue your walk in this ancient part, going up a hill, you reach the historic center of Gravina in Puglia and in particular you arrive at the Piaggio, Fondovico and Borgo districts, a set of alleys full of houses, tuff churches and historic buildings such as Palazzo Ducale Orsini, the palace that belonged to the family that governed the city for five centuries and which hosted illustrious people such as Carolina of Austria, Prince Francis I and Charles III of Bourbon. Another important historical building is Palazzo Vescovile, built in the 9th century, which collapsed following an earthquake in 1456. It was rebuilt in the following centuries with many modifications, where it is possible to admire the statue dedicated to Pope Benedict XIII.

In Gravina in Puglia there is also the oldest library in Puglia, Finya Library but also some palaces of nobles and scholars who brought prestige to the city. Some of them are Palazzo Calderoni-Martini, Palazzo Popolizio, Palazzo Lettieri, Palazzo and Piazza Scacchi or Villa D’ Ecclessis.

For all museum lovers, the city is full of them. Worth visiting are the Museum and Library of the Ettore Pomarici Santomasi Foundation which collects the most important finds from the archaeological areas of Gravina.

Finally, in addition to the Cathedral, built in 1065, which also collapsed in the earthquake of 1456 and which preserves some statues of artistic value such as the Risen Jesus, Saint Paul and Saint Peter, there are also churches dedicated to many saints: Santa Sofia, Saint Nicholas, Saint Augustine, Saint Dominic, Saint Lucia, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Mary of the Dominicans, Saint Felix, Saint Francis, Saint Sebastian, Saint Mary of Suffrage, of Our Lady of Sorrows, Madonna della Grazia and Mater Grazia.

Trekking and walking enthusiasts can discover the wonders surrounding the city of Gravina in Puglia by visiting the Alta Murgia National Park. It extends for more than 68,000 hectares or the Bosco Difesa Grande, where you can admire numerous plant and bird species. Furthermore, 1km from the city, there is the Castle of Gravina in Puglia, built at the behest of Frederick II of Swabia around 1233. Unfortunately, the monument cannot be visited inside because, in part, it has been destroyed in time.

What to eat in Gravina in Puglia

Not only ancient civilizations, artistic beauties and centuries-old churches but also typical products to try, excellence of the territory. Examples are the Pallone di Gravina, a traditional caciocavallo made with raw milk and defined as a Slow food presidium or the Alta Murgia knife-point sausage, a sausage made with white parts of lard and flavored with wild fennel and chilli pepper. Again, gnomerelli, rolls cooked on the grill, made of kid sweetbreads. Typical dishes of the peasant tradition are Pancotto, made with bread, Murgia vegetables and potatoes; U’Calaridd, a traditional Easter dish prepared with lamb and wild herbs or fresh pasta, such as the one with cardoncelli mushrooms.

For your snacks or quick lunches, the focaccia di San Giuseppe is worth tasting, filled with anchovies, sultanas and onions. Furthermore, calzoni, panzerotti made with semolina and flour and stuffed with sweetened and flavored ricotta and seasoned with meat sauce or the typical Gravina bread are famous because they are different from that of the other nearby municipalities, made in the shape of a braid with a dough made with flour, water and yeast. Other products that can be found in the town’s bakeries are the exquisite taralli, tarallini or milk biscuits.

The wines of Gravina in Puglia are also local excellences such as the Verdeca DOC or the white wines in the dry and sparkling variants. Also, the Gravina DOC, obtained from local grapes, as well as the Greco di Tufo and the white Malvasia. Finally, as regards desserts, the typical one is Sasanello, obtained with flour mixed with vincotto, grated orange peel, cinnamon, clove flowers and cocoa. Is is formerly prepared for weddings and parties.

How to get

Gravina in Puglia can be reached using different means of transport:

• by plane: the nearest airport is Bari (61 km away) or Brindisi (178 km away). Once you reach the stations of these cities, it will be sufficient to rent a car, take a bus or train to reach the town.

• By train: trains travel from both Bari and Potenza to reach the city. Alternatively, the State Railways connect Gravina via the Gioia del Colle-Rocchetta Sant’Antonio route.

• By car, for those coming from the North it will be sufficient to take the A14 Bologna-Taranto motorway (Trani-Corato barrier). For those coming from Bari and Potenza, the SS96. For those coming from Foggia and Canosa, the SS97 delle Murge and finally, for those coming from Matera, the SP53.

Gravina in Puglia can also be reached using the bus service made available by the various cities in Puglia and the rest of Italy.

Anyone who finds themselves visiting the Itria Valley cannot miss what is considered one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Italy: Cisternino. A set of white houses, alleys and small squares that recall times gone by, but also architectural works and churches to admire during your walks around the town.

What to see in Cisternino

Walking around the beautiful Cisternino you come across Piazza Garibaldi and, in particular, the Villa Comunale and the Torre Grande, a quadrangular structure from the Norman and Frederick era, an ancient lookout point from which you can enjoy a beautiful panorama (the Belvedere). Near these buildings there is Porta Grande, a gate that leads to the historic center and the Mother Church, in honor of San Nicola, from the Romanesque era, inside which a Renaissance work is preserved, the Madonna with child, created by Stefano di Putignano in 1517.

The peculiarity of Cisternino is that every alley and street has something to tell: during your walk you will certainly come across Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli where it will be possible to admire the panel painting “Madonna of the carpenter” and a remainder of a fresco portraying the Virgin. The typical architecture of the houses is fascinating: small white buildings huddled together, particular for their balconies or stone masks. However, there is no shortage of more important palaces such as that of the Governor, Palazzo Cenci, Palazzo Lagravinese and Palazzo Pepe. Even the main street, Corso Umberto I, is characterized by a group of white houses, each beautiful in some small detail: all to be admired and photographed as they are enriched with decorations and flowers.

Cisternino is not only beautiful to visit during the day but also in the evening, especially in summer when, in the alleys of the historic center or in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, the clubs are full of people sipping cocktails or having fun with live music and DJs set.

The traditions of Cisternino

Just outside the town there is the Sanctuary of the Madonna d’Ibernia, where Easter Monday is celebrated: during this holiday, the people of the town go to the Sanctuary with a typical dessert called “u churruchele“, a symbol of prosperity , made in the shape of a bag with two boiled eggs for boys and in the shape of a doll with a boiled egg for girls.

Another very heartfelt festival is the one in honor of Sant’Antonio, whose celebrations begin on January 17th or, again, the patronal festival in honor of the patron saints Quirico and Giulitta, on the first Sunday of August when processions, concerts and fireworks. Finally, not far from Cisternino, in the Caranna area, the Orecchiette Festival is held which attracts the locals to get together with dancing, popular music and good food.

What to eat

Cisternino is a lovely little village where you can still breathe the familiar air of the past: you can in fact taste excellent typical products or traditional dishes in characteristic farms or welcoming taverns and restaurants. Among the typical products to taste, an undisputed protagonist is meat: beef sausages, bombette (pork meat rolls filled with canestrato cheese, salt and pepper) and gnummeredde (based on lamb offal). These products can be enjoyed in the typical butchers-restaurants of the historic center, the famous “ready-to-eat stoves” where you can choose the cut of meat you prefer and enjoy it directly at the tables in front of the butcher’s shop, accompanied by an excellent glass of wine. Another unmissable dish typical of the Apulian tradition is orecchiette with turnip greens or with sauce and pecorino or broad beans and chicory. Again, a typical snack is friselle, often seasoned with tomatoes, oil, salt and oregano.

Cisternino’s desserts are also an absolute must-try, especially if you are a lover of almonds, one of the fixed ingredients in these preparations: sugar almonds (menule atterrete), i.e. toasted almonds sprinkled with sugar; castagnelle, small loaves made with flour, eggs, sugar, almonds, cinnamon and cloves or, again, the variant with the addition of black cherry called castagnama. Another dessert is the Santantonio, a rectangular biscuit prepared with flour, eggs, sugar and almonds, excellent to accompany coffee or tea. Other typical dairy biscuits, Rombò, are those made with flour, eggs, sugar, hazelnuts and milk, also excellent at the end of a meal to accompany a glass of rum.

How to reach Cisternino

Cisternino is located in the Itria Valley and it is possible to get there:

• by plane, the closest airport is Brindisi (50 km) or Bari (80 km), from which it will then be necessary to take a rental car or a transfer to reach Cisternino.
• by train. Coming from the North the fastest solution is to take a Regional train from Bari. Alternatively there are other solutions from Brindisi, Ostuni, Polignano a Mare etc, we therefore recommend consulting the Trenitalia website.
• by car, for those coming from the North you need to exit at Bari Nord, then continue on the SS16 towards Brindisi and then follow the signs for Cisternino to get onto the SS379. For those coming from the South, however, the motorway exit is Brindisi-Lecce, so it will be necessary to follow the signs for SS16 towards Bari and then those for Cisternino.

Castellana Grotte is a city in the province of Bari which owes its name to the presence of the fascinating caves. They are visited by many tourists every year that are enchanted by their beauty and peculiarity. However, the city is full of many other places to visit, experiences to have and typical products to taste.

What to see in Castellana Grotte

The historic center of Castellana Grotte is characterized by small and cute streets full of important buildings. To mention a few: the Old Town Hall, the former Convent of San Francesco and the church of San Leone Magno. In this Church the statues of Leo the Great, John the Baptist and that of the Madonna Consolatrice are kept.

Another sanctuary not to be missed is that of Maria SS. della Vetrana, built in 1691 in honor of the Madonna who freed the town from the plague or, again, the Church of San Francesco d’Assisi, built in 1651, in a late Renaissance style where you can admire the seven altars in local stone. Finally, a short distance from the city, the Church of Caroseno, Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio and Church of San Nicola di Genna.

Not only history, art and culture but also fun for adults and children in the Indiana adventure park which offers safe acrobatic courses for all the adventurous or, again, the Dinosaur Park, an open-air museum in which dinosaurs have been reproduced at natural size. Another museum is the Franco Anelli Speleological Museum, dedicated to the man who discovered the city’s famous caves (together with the speleologist Vito Matarrese) and the Sirio Astronomical Observatory.

The famous caves of Castellana

The Castellana Grotte were discovered in 1938 and are one of the major representations of the karst phenomenon in Puglia. They are located about 2 kilometers from the town center and extend for about 3 kilometres. They can be visited by following two types of routes, one of which is shorter, about 1,5km and the other about 3km.

Once you enter the caves, you find a chasm of about sixty meters called the Grave from which you can access the numerous caves, canyons, stalactites, stalagmites, which you can admire during your tour. They are all called with fascinating names to recall a particular shape or a legend. Some of them are the Owl Cave, the Serpent Corridor, the Precipice Cave, the Black Cave and many others.

What to eat in Castellana Grotte

The charm of Castellana Grotte does not stop at the magic of the caves and the artistic and cultural heritage but also at a cuisine rich in typical products all to be enjoyed in refined dishes or in the Apulian culinary tradition. The imprint of the cuisine of Castellana Grotte is typical of the province of Bari in which mussels prevail, to be enjoyed marinara style or fried or meat such as braciole (a thin, seasoned and rolled meat).

Also worth trying are the simple and genuine dishes of the peasant tradition such as broad beans and chicory or baked lampascioni. Pettole are also typical, made with flour, yeast, water and salt, left to rise for at least two hours. They are stuffed with capers, cherry tomatoes, olives, chilli pepper and onion and fried in boiling oil in the form of balls.

How to get to Castellana Grotte

It is possible to reach Castellana Grotte by any means of transport:

• by plane, the closest airport is Bari (about 36 km away), from which it will be possible to either rent a car or, after arriving at Bari station, take a train or bus to reach the city or rent a car.

• By train, once you reach Bari station, simply take the train via Conversano-Castellana of the Ferrovie Sud-Est.

• By bus, again from Bari, it will be very simple to reach the city with the means of the South-East Railways.

• By car, for those coming from Bologna-Ancona, you will need to take the A14; from Florence-Rome the A1 and from Naples, the A16. Then, exit at Bari Nord and then continue along the SS16 until the Conversano-Cozze exit, finally take the SS634.