Films shot in Puglia

The beauties of Puglia attract thousands of tourists every year who appreciate the beaches, art, history, cuisine and much more of this land. Many directors (often internationally renowned) who decide to set their films in this splendid setting are also captivated by the breathtaking scenery that this region has to offer. In fact, over the years there have been many film sets set up in the region, also thanks to the activity carried out by the Apulia Film Commission Foundation. If you are passionate about film tourism and have been fascinated by Puglia thanks to some films shot here, this article is for you.

List of the most famous films shot in Puglia

MANUALE D’AMORE

“Manuale d’amore 2 – Capitoli successivi” is the sequel to “Manuale d’amore”, directed by Giovanni Veronesi. Like the first film, the plot is divided into four episodes (Eros, La maternità, Il matrimonio e Amore estremo) which deal with themes ranging from the difficulty of having a child and the use of assisted fertilization, a gay marriage, the betrayal of a husband with a younger woman after losing passion with his wife and a young man’s obsessive relationship with his physiotherapist after becoming the victim of a car accident.

Among the protagonists are the Apulian Riccardo Scamarcio and Sergio Rubini but also Fabio Volo, Carlo Verdone, Monica Bellucci, Barbora Bobul’ova’ and Claudio Bisio. Filming took place between Italy (Rome, Cagli and Lecce) and Spain (Barcelona). There are many scenes filmed in the Salento city and province such as the wedding scene of Fosco’s sister (Sergio Rubini) set in the Church of San Lorenzo in Lizzanello. In Lecce appear Piazza del Duomo, Piazza Sant’Oronzo, the Fountain of Harmony, Piazzetta Arco di Prato and Palazzo Rollo.

AMICI COME NOI

“Amici come noi“ is a film starring the Apulian comedy duo Pio and Amedeo, directed by director Enrico Lando. The town of the film is Monte Sant’Angelo, a town in the Gargano, a UNESCO heritage site for the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo, a suggestive cave in which the Archangel appeared. The events are also set in Foggia (birthplace of the two actors). It is the story of two thirty-year-old friends, partners in a funeral home, and their adventures: Pio is betrothed to Rosa, a young primary school teacher and plans to move to Belluno with her; Amedeo, on the other hand, is single but has fun with several girls.

Shortly before Pio’s wedding to Rosa, the man becomes aware of a hardcore video regarding his future wife and that becomes the pretext for the young man to escape with his friend Amedeo towards Rome, leaving their town. A series of amusing misadventures bring the two protagonists to Milan where Pio discovers that the video was just a stunt by Amedeo to prevent him from moving to Belluno.

MINE VAGANTI

“Mine vaganti” by Ferzan Ozpetek features, among other performers, the Apulian artists Riccardo Scamarcio and Lunetta Savino, with Elena Sofia Ricci, Nicole Grimaudo and Ennio Fantastichini. The film is staged in Salento and in particular in Lecce where it is possible to recognize Piazza Sant’Oronzo and Via Paladini, the beaches of Gallipoli and a real pasta factory in Corigliano d’Otranto. The film tells the story of the young Tommaso Cantone, originally from Salento, who leaves his homeland, which is too traditionalist and bigoted, to move to Rome and be able to live his homosexual relationship with Marco in peace. He makes the decision to come out to his family and for this reason he moves back to Lecce where, among a series of events, he must gather the courage to reveal his sexual orientation.

IO CHE AMO SOLO TE

“Io che amo solo te” is a comedy directed by Marco Ponti starring Riccardo Scamarcio and Laura Chiatti, who play Chiara and Damiano, two young engaged couples from Polignano a Mare. The two lovers learn that many years earlier their parents, Ninella (Chiara’s mother) and Don Mimì (Damiano’s father), were also about to get married but due to a series of misadventures they did not have their happy ending. The shooting of the film took place in Polignano a Mare, a beautiful city in the province of Bari, also famous for being the birthplace of Domenico Modugno and for its crystal clear waters which attract thousands of tourists every year. Protagonists of other scenes are also the nearby cities such as Monopoli, Turi, Fasano and Martina Franca.

L’UOMO NERO

“L’uomo nero” is a film directed and starring Sergio Rubini who chose to stage the events discussed in his region. Among other things, another protagonist of the film is also from Puglia, Riccardo Scamarcio; the cast is completed by, among others, Valeria Golino and Anna Falchi. “L’uomo nero” talks about the return of Gabriele Rossetti to his town of origin (San Vito, perhaps referring to San Vito dei Normanni where many filmings took place) to watch over his seriously ill father Ernesto. It is precisely during this occasion that Gabriele relives flashbacks of his childhood and of his relationship, sometimes tormented, with his father, a former station master of the town and lover of art and painting.

In addition to San Vito dei Normanni, the other takes took place in Brindisi and its province (Mesagne, Oria, Torre Santa Susanna); in Manduria, in the province of Taranto and in Bari and its province (Altamura, Modugno, Giovinazzo and Acquaviva delle Fonti). A curiosity is that Sergio Rubini’s hometown, Grumo Appula, also appears in the film in scenes depicting an old train belonging to the Appulo Lucane Railways.

TOLO TOLO

Among the most famous films shot in Puglia we cannot fail to mention the blockbuster film: “Tolo Tolo”. This is the latest of the cinematographic successes of Luca Medici, aka Checco Zalone, director, actor and comedian from Bari. After the failure to open a Japanese restaurant in his town Spinazzola, Checco, overwhelmed by debt, decides to flee from the tax authorities to Africa, where he finds work as a waiter in a resort in Kenya. In addition to Morocco, Kenya and Malta, many shootings took place in Bari, Acquaviva delle Fonti, Gravina in Puglia, Minervino Murge, Monopoli, Poggiorsini, Spinazzola and Torre Guaceto. The film was so successful at the box office that it became the fifth highest grossing in Italy and the third Italian film (after “Quo vago?” and “Sole a Catinelle“, also by Checco Zalone).

SEI MAI STATA SULLA LUNA?

“Sei mai stata sulla Luna?” is a film by Paolo Genovese starring Raoul Bova (Renzo), Neri Marcorè (Pino), Giulia Michelini (Carola), Pietro Sermonti (Marco) and Liz Solari (Guia). The story tells of Guia, an Italian-Spanish girl, director of a famous fashion magazine, overworked and traveling between Milan and Paris, always accompanied by her boyfriend Marco and her assistant Carola.

After years of work, Guia, upon the death of her father, inherits a forgotten farm in Puglia where she spent the summer as a child and it is precisely here that she meets the farmer Renzo, with whom she lives a relationship of love and hate. The film is framed by several Salento villages, Nardò, Galatina, Crispiano, Martina Franca and Brindisi. A curiosity is that after filming the film, Raoul Bova, captured by the beauty of the places in Puglia, bought a farm in Ostuni.

ODIO L’ESTATE

“Odio l’estate” is one of the 2020 films shot in Puglia, directed by Massimo Venier and starring the comic trio Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo. Three men with apparently normal lives and the usual family problems. They meet during a beach holiday on a southern island where, due to an error by the travel agency, they discover that they have rented the same house . The solution for the three families is to share the apartment: this becomes the pretext for the three men to get to know each other and discuss their lives.

The scenes shot in Puglia actually refer to different cities: Bari and the historic center and Mola di Bari appear several times but there is no shortage of spectacular locations in Salento (Otranto with the Lungomare degli Eroi, Ugento, Santa Cesarea Terme, the Alimini Lakes and Lecce). Again, San Pancrazio Salentino, in the province of Brindisi and Ginosa and Castellaneta Marina, in the province of Taranto.

SI VIVE UNA VOLTA SOLA

“Si vive una volta sola“, is a comedy directed and starring Carlo Verdone. The cinema release was scheduled for February 26, 2020 but was postponed due to the Coronavirus. The plot revolves around the medical crew led by Professor Umberto Gastaldi. These are as expert in their profession as they are unreliable and clumsy in their private lives.

When Umberto, Lucia and Corrado discover that Amedeo is very ill, instead of telling him, they decide to organize a road trip to the beaches of Puglia with the aim of being able to reveal the dramatic truth to their colleague and friend. Carlo Verdone was enthusiastic about having set the film in many Apulian cities, declaring that he received a lot of energy from them and that he discovered a great sense of solidarity on the part of the local people. In particular, the cities featured in the film are Bari, Monopoli, Polignano a Mare, Castro and Otranto.

These are just some of the films shot in Puglia (because the list of titles would still be very long, considering that the region has hosted

Puglia, in addition to being a wonderful region, visited every year by thousands of tourists, is also the land that gave birth to many artists, including comedians who have become famous throughout Italy (and also in the rest of the world) . In this article we will tell you about some of the most famous Apulian comedians who have made the history of Italian television and cinema and beyond.

Checco Zalone

Checco Zalone, pseudonym of Luca Medici, is perhaps one of the most famous and loved Apulian actors and comedians. Every time his films come out at the cinema, they are a guaranteed success: 4 of his films even appear in the list of the 10 highest grossing films in Italy.

Born in Capurso, in the province of Bari, Zalone graduated in law and in 2005 performed on the stage of Zelig Off and subsequently of Zelig Circus, thus achieving popularity with his parodies of the most famous Italian and foreign songs.

In May 2009, filming began on his first film, “Cado dalle nubi”, a huge success, followed by “Che bella giornata” in 2011, “Sole a catinelle” in 2013, “Quo Vado?” of 2016 and “Tolo Tolo” of 2020: films in which the great social issues (homosexuality, emigration, racism, integration) are treated in a light and ironic way, to make people reflect with a smile.

Lino Banfi

Among the most famous Apulian comedians we cannot fail to mention Lino Banfi, a true institution of Puglia, known throughout Italy.

Born as Pasquale Zagaria in Andria, the general public was able to appreciate Lino Banfi more recently for his interpretations of grandfather Libero in “Un Medico in famiglia” (a role he held from 1998 to 2016), in the role of Commissioner Zagaria and the ‘coach Oronzo Canà (from the 80s). But his career began many years earlier in the Italian sexy comedy, with immortal films from the 60s and 70s that can still make us laugh today.

A humble and good character, loved by adults and children, who in 2019 also became a member of the Italian commission at UNESCO.

Pio and Amedeo

Two other very famous and much loved Apulian comedians arrive directly from Foggia: Pio and Amedeo. The duo, fresh from the great success of the television show “Felicissima sera”, broadcast on Canale 5 in recent months, has many participations in successful programs and shows in their CV.

Their satire and their jokes (even a little racy and pretentious) draw laughter from audiences all over Italy, who have learned to appreciate them first as correspondents for “Le Iene“, then in “Emigratis” and later also during the evening show of “Amici” by Maria de Filippi.

Their debut at the cinema, with the film “Amici come noi” in 2014, was a huge success at the box office.

Pino Campagna

Also from Foggia comes another famous Apulian comedian: Pino Campagna, known to the general public above all for the catchphrase “Papi, ci sei? Ce la fai? Sei connesso?” of his most famous character, the Papy Ultras.

He began his career as a folk singer in the 80s but then approached the world of cabaret, becoming known to the general public first with his participation in “La sai l’ultima?” and then to “Zelig Circus” from 2003 onwards.

Uccio de Santis

Uccio de Santis is a famous comedian from Bari, known above all for the television sitcom “Mudù” which has been broadcast on Telenorba since 2001, with his satirical and irreverent sketches which have also gone viral on the web.

Numerous participations in successful films such as “Le barzellette” by Carlo Vanzina with Gigi Proietti and “Giudice Mastrangelo” with Diego Abatantuono and Amanda Sandrelli.

In 2019 he also joined the cast of the Rai 2 broadcast “Made in Sud”.

Other Apulian comedians

Other famous Apulian actors are Emanuele de Nicolò (the famous Manuel and Manuel from the Very Strong Family, a sitcom that airs on Telenorba) together with Alfredo Navarra and Cinzia Clemente.

And from Trani Marco and Chicco, comedians from Zelig and Made in Sud and finally, from the cast of Mudù, Giuseppe Guida.

Another example of Salento industrial archeology is the Bauxite quarry in Otranto, built in the early 1940s, thanks to the chance discovery of a mineral. Located near the Punta Palascia lighthouse, this deposit, now abandoned in 1976 due to high extraction costs, represents one of the most visited places in Salento.

The visual impact between the dark red sedimentary rock and the emerald green lake is impressive, so much so that it is one of the most photographed places in Otranto and the entire coast.

Since this is a disused area, it is advisable to exercise maximum caution especially near the pond. We would also like to remind you that it is not suitable for swimming, and there are also wonderful beaches to discover nearby.

How to get to the Bauxite Quarry from Otranto

The bauxite lake is located just south of Otranto, but is not well signposted, it is therefore recommended to equip yourself with a device with GPS (smartphone, navigator, etc.); above you will find the exact coordinates. Once you have parked your car, just walk a few hundred meters to reach the red lake.

Carnival is a celebration much loved by adults and children who have fun dressing up and happily spending this festive and colorful period of the year. In Puglia, one of the most famous Carnival events is the one that takes place in Putignano.

Origins of the holiday

The Putignano Carnival was born in 1394 when Puglia was under the Saracen invasion. It is said that on 26 December, Saint Stephen’s Day, the citizens and governors of the city, to protect the relics of the Protomartyr Saint Stephen, moved them from the Monopoli Abbey to Putignano, a city which due to its strategic position seemed suitable for preserving that precious heritage. Legend has it that the farmers engaged in the fields grafting vines with the offshoot technique, seeing the procession of people passing by intent on transferring the relics of the Saint, abandoned their work in the fields to sing and dance satirical verses in dialect.

The traditions

From this legend originates the Festa delle Propaggini which is held every 26 December and which revives the memory of the past thanks to dialect poets, the offshoots, who in peasant clothes and with work tools challenge each other to the sound of satirical verses in dialect .

Other dates mark the arrival of Carnival: from January 17th (the day of Sant’Antonio Abate), in fact, every Thursday a story of a specific social group is represented. It starts with the group of Monsignors, then that of Priests, Nuns, Widowers, “Pazzi” (young people not yet married), Married Women and, finally, on the last Thursday the “Cuckold Thursday” is staged edited by the Accademia delle Corna. At half past six, in the Municipal Cloister, the representatives of this Academy polish their horns and visit the “Great Cuckold of the Year”, chosen by surprise by the other members of the Academy. In the evening, the Cerimonia dell’Ammasso takes place in Piazza Plebiscito, in which the horns are measured and cut by skilled hairdressers.

On February 2, Candlemas Day, on one hand religious rites take place linked to the blessing of candles while on the other, there is the Festa dell’Orso a theatrical representation in which the bear is seen both as the enemy to be hunted and killing is like a friendly presence that symbolizes the arrival of the beautiful season.

Shrove Tuesday is the day of the Carnival last rites: figures dressed as priests carry out this cheerful and amusing scene which culminates in the evening when a funeral procession accompanies the now dead Carnival represented by a papier-mâché pig which symbolizes the excesses that must give way to a more moderate lifestyle. At the end of the funeral, the pig is burned leaving only ashes to symbolize the arrival of Lent.

Program of the 626th edition of the Putignano Carnival

Also this year, the Putignano Carnival is marked by fun and engaging events for adults and children. Not only the parades of allegorical floats but also concerts and live events that will cheer up the many visitors who will come to the city for one of the most famous cultural events in Puglia.

One of the most fun and colorful moments of the entire Putignano Carnival is represented by the parades of allegorical floats made of papier-mâché with masked groups and masks accompanying the passage of the floats. For 2020 the theme is “The earth seen from the Carnival“, a very heartfelt and current topic in light of the climate changes that are devastating our planet. In fact, this is intended to be an invitation to think about a sustainable future for the new generations and raise awareness on the topic of eco-sustainability. There are seven allegorical floats made by expert papier-mâché craftsmen: “Madre terra l’ultimo paradiso terrestre”, “L’apocalisse”, “Kaosecoista”, “Casca la terra, tutti giù per terra!”, “L’ultimo giro di giostra”, “… di domani non v’è certezza” e “Codice rosso”.

Events

First parade of allegorical floats, masked groups and character masks (Sunday 9 February): the parade will take place at 11.30 am while the concert by the drummer, singer-songwriter and percussionist Tullio De Piscopo will be held at 8.00 pm.

Second parade of allegorical floats, masked groups and character masks (Sunday 16 February): the parade will take place at 11.30 am while at 8.00 pm, the comic duo Toti & Tata will entertain the public with laughter.

Third parade of allegorical floats, masked groups and character masks (Sunday 23 February): the parade will take place at 3.00 pm while at 8.00 pm, the Brazilian folk rock group Selton will enthrall the public with the cheerful and festive South American sounds.

Fourth parade of allegorical floats, masked groups and character masks (Tuesday 25 February): on Shrove Tuesday, the parade will take place at 6.00 pm.

Great piñata party (Saturday 29 February): after the great piñata party which will be held at 7pm, another moment of great music will be represented by the concert by singer Donatella Rettore, at 9.30pm.

We thank the Carnevale di Putignano Foundation for their precious collaboration.

The month of February could be an excellent time to spend a holiday in Salento, as masks, confetti, Salento delicacies and lots of fun will be the main ingredients that will enliven the Carnival in Salento Greece with cheerful and lively colours. It is a festival in which art, intercultural meetings and twinning with different countries intersect and which give life to events characterized by folklore intertwined with religion.

An event full of sensations and allegorical demonstrations, which in some parts of the world is an unfailing tradition, to be safeguarded and preserved, to be carried forward and celebrated.

The origins of Carnival in Salento

Initially a Catholic tradition, then transformed over time from a purely pagan ritual, oriented towards exaggeration and subversion of the patterns in which society existed, to a ritual of abundance and celebration before the long period of fasting that comes with Lent, which ends with the arrival of Easter.

The celebrations have very ancient origins and have their roots in the Dionysian or Saturnalia rituals of the medieval era, handed down to us by a strong typically Salento popular spirit.

In Salento, the carnival period generally begins on January 17th and coincides with the “focare” ritual, i.e. the lighting of enormous piles of olive branches dedicated to S. Antonio Abate, in various points of the city.

Countless towns in the province of Lecce organize themselves for the great event: Casarano, Copertino (with its characteristic lu Paulinu mask), Corsano, Aradeo, Andrano and Borgagne (famous for the town’s musical band), Martignano, Scorrano (famous for the songs and dances during the Pascalino fire), Nardò and Melendugno, Supersano etc…

Carnival in Gallipoli: between rites and traditions

The oldest Carnival is that of Putignano, but the culmination of this period arrives with the parade organized in Gallipoli thanks to the intervention of the excellent Lecce artisans who were able to bring the art of papier-mâché to the highest levels, obtaining true masterpieces.

The traditional mask of the Gallipoli carnival is “lu Titoru”. Theodore, kept away from his homeland, ardently desired to return to his homeland at least for the Carnival, that is, in the period in which everyone could enjoy the abundance of food and have fun, before the advent of Lent. Even Teodoro’s mother, the “Caremma“, who was worried about her son, prayed that God could grant him a few days of extension of the Carnival, and her pleas were heard.

The celebration was extended by two days (“li giurni de la bianca”) and Teodoro was able to arrive in Gallipoli in time to enjoy the celebration. It was a Tuesday and Teodoro, to make up for lost time, ate so many tons of sausages and pork meatballs that he was choked. Thus, on that tragic Shrove Tuesday, Teodoro died and with him the Carnival also died, among the screams of pain that accompanied his coffin.

For this reason, he paraded a cart with a straw puppet representing Lu Titoru in procession through the streets of the city. Everyone got on their knees and showed their compunction and thus began, from Ash Wednesday, the penance that lasted for forty long days, the days of Lent.

After Ash Wednesday, on Thursday the “Pentolaccia” is celebrated, which gives the opportunity to consume the last remnants of the now concluded Carnival. It is a large pot, a “pignata“, containing sweets and sweets of all kinds which the children must break in order to gain possession of the precious contents.

Do you want to visit Lecce and experience the typical Salento in one go? Well, if you have very little time at your disposal, I can only recommend one of the oldest places in the country, which over the years has undergone notable changes, becoming a multifunctional place, where you can taste the traditional delights of Lecce . I’m telling you about the “Boulangerie” of Lecce, the historic bakery of Lecce, born in 1990 close to the main square of the wonderful city.

The local

The restaurant presents itself with a new restyling which is painted in a pastel green on the facades, alternating with a pure white which colors the various furnishings and gives a sense of freshness and cleanliness, illuminating the large counter of the products on display and which makes the room warm It is cozy.

He becomes the first to experiment with alternative breads and to broaden the concept of the bakery, which since last October has decided to embrace the world of pastry, catering, rotisserie and bar.

Products

What can we find? Not only the typicality of Salento, but also the reinterpretations of tradition all created by hand: typical pasticciotti, rustici, puccette, puccie, pizzi, fried and baked calzones, taralli, frise, friselline, cartridges, murfettate, quaresimali, cupete, cartridges, mustaccioli, Fruttoni, Orecchiette, that is our homemade pasta.

The bread is made at night, with a thousand proposals of special flours and organic flours: cereals, burnt wheat, semolina with sourdough, sesame and many others. In the morning, muffins are prepared in the chocolate and carrot variants, a soft plum cake or for those who opt for a healthy and alternative breakfast, seasonal and non-seasonal fruit extracts can be served, such as mango, papaya and persimmon apple accompanied by multi-grain artisanal rusks served with organic jam.

Not just a boulangerie

The aperitif time is followed by lunch with the possibility of taking quick breaks from work without sacrificing quality, while in the early afternoon the appointment is with tea, herbal teas and hot chocolate, delicious desserts and special cakes.

At around 6pm they bake hot bread and gourmet pizzeria!

As evening falls, the lights dim and the place transforms, becoming a lounge where you can drink in the company of a cocktail or natural fruit extracts; all to be accompanied with their focacce.

In this bread boutique you will find their baked products made with high quality and highly digestible raw materials, their tasty takeaway gastronomy and the finest pastries, which will make your days tastier every day.

At the Boulangerie in Lecce you can find all this in one place! All you have to do is write down the address: Via G. Oberdan, 10, 73100 Lecce LE.

Puglia is a land famous for its natural, artistic, historical beauties and for its cuisine known throughout the world, but also for the many artists who were born here, especially Apulian actors, highly appreciated in the Italian cinema scene and international.

Apulian actors: yesterday and today

• One of the actors who brought Puglia to Hollywood was Rodolfo Valentino, born in Castellaneta in the province of Taranto in 1895, who left for New York at the age of just 18 to pursue the American dream, arriving in Hollywood where he made his breakthrough as an actor in several productions, including “My Official Wife”, “The Quest of Life”, “The Foolish Virgin”.

• Talent and beauty are not lacking even in the Apulian cinema actors of today: an example is Riccardo Scamarcio, born in 1979, originally from Trani. His fame in the cinema came with the generational cult “Tre metri sopra il cielo” and from there his career was on the rise even in roles in international productions such as in Woody Allen’s “To Rome With Love“.

• Titled most handsome in Italy in 1992 is the actor and presenter from Bari Ettore Bassi, born in 1970 who began studying theater in Turin at just 19 years old. In 1993 he led the Banda dello Zecchino and in 1994 he began his career as an actor in the TV miniseries “Italian Restaurant” and from that moment on he took part in many other TV series such as “I ragazzi del muretto 3“, “Un posto al sole”, “Carabinieri” and the more recent “La porta rossa”.

• Among the Apulian women we remember the Bitonto actress and presenter Bianca Guaccero who made her film debut in the film “Burnt Earth” alongside Giancarlo Giannini and Michele Placido. Since that moment there have been many participations in films and TV series: among the most famous “Capri“, “La Terza Verità“, “Mia Madre” while among the presences as host, in 2008 the co-hosting of the Sanremo Festival and the current hosting of the Rai Due afternoon program “Detto Fatto”.

Laughter made in Puglia

• The undisputed king of laughter is the actor from Bari who grew up in Capurso, Luca Pasquale Medici, aka Checco Zalone, who has some of the most successful films in the history of Italian cinema in his CV. His career as a comedian took off in Zelig Off in 2005 where he performed parodies of famous songs. His debut as an actor took place in 2009 with the film “Cado dalle nubi” and from that moment on, a series of successes and box office successes followed: “Che bella giorno”, “Sole a catinelle”, “Quo vado?”, until the last “Tolo Tolo”.

• It is precisely in one of these films (“Cado dalle nubi”) that another famous actor from Bari appears, Dino Abbrescia: a “born” theater actor, he only subsequently landed in films such as “Io non ho paura“, “Manuale d’amore” and in TV series such as “Distretto di Polizia 10 and 11” or “Squadra Anti-Mafia”.

• Spokesman of Apulian joy throughout Italy is also the comedian and actor from Bari Emilio Solfrizzi, who graduated from DAMS in Bologna. Famous for the couple created with his friend Antonio Stornaiolo, “Toti and Tata”. There are many characters played in cinema and on TV such as the successful role of Paolo Giorgi in “Tutti pazzi per amore”.

• Last but not least, Pasquale Zagaria, better known as Lino Banfi, born in Andria and a leading representative of the Italian sexy comedy genre of the 60s and 80s, much appreciated for the role of Oronzo Canà in “L’allenatore nel pallone”and in other funny comedies that still make us laugh today. Certainly, the television audience is still fond of his role as Nonno Libero in “Un medico in famiglia”.

It extends to the center of Puglia between the provinces of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto, coinciding in the southern part with the Murge plateau. We are talking about the famous Itria Valley, also called “Trulli Valley” due to the presence of these typical cone-shaped buildings.

In this large and flat karst basin, in which the trulli, the verdant countryside, carefully cultivated with vineyards, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, the dry stone walls, the tiny country lanes contribute to the definition of a pleasant and fascinating landscape picture.

The climate is characterized by harsh winters and hot, long but often windy summers, with interesting temperature variations.

Itria Valley among vineyards and olive groves

The Itria Valley welcomes visitors with a large expanse of vines and olive groves. Viticulture tends to be based on white grapes, with the famous wines of Locorotondo DOC and Martina Franca DOC; the main variants are Verdeca and Bianco d’Alessano.

In Lower Murgia, however, we return to the classic Apulian vocation for reds with the Primitivo grape, the cornerstone of the Gioia del Colle DOP.

Surrounded by rows of dry stone walls, from the milky white lime of the unmistakable trulli stand out extensive countryside of olive groves that produce delicious extra virgin olive oil.

Unmissable stops in the Itria Valley

• In the heart of the Itria Valley, an obligatory stop is Alberobello, a UNESCO world heritage site since 1996 with its fascinating trulli which, in a fairy-tale setting, hosts the Living Nativity scene in December and the Living Passion during the Easter period.

• Not least are Cisternino with its countryside dotted with these trullo-shaped buildings, together with nearby Locorotondo; a beautiful village called this way precisely because of the characteristic round shape of the town.

• Not far away, in the municipality of Castellana Grotte you can visit the famous Castellana Caves. The Grave, the first and largest cave of the underground system naturally connected to the outside; and the last and most beautiful cave, the White Cave, defined as the brightest in the world.

• A few kilometers from the province of Bari, we find Martina Franca (TA), the most populated municipality in the Itria Valley. Known for its baroque architecture and music festival held in summer.

• The only city in the valley with an outlet to the sea is the beautiful Ostuni: the so-called “White City”, due to its historic centre, once painted completely with white lime.

• Towards the province of Brindisi, in the Fasano plain, full of farms, resorts and ancient homes, lies the forest of the same name within which the Zoo Safari is located, a park that is home to over 40 species of animals in the wild.

• Very close is the Archaeological Park of Egnazia which is located a few kilometers from the sea. The rooms of the museum preserve over 30 centuries of history dating back to the Bronze Age, passing through the Roman era up to the late ancient period.

Typical products and tourist routes

Currently the Itria Valley is one of the areas with the greatest tourist attendance; rich in numerous historic centres, as are numerous farms (masserie) that offer walks, workshops and tastings.

Being one of the most evocative places in the Apulian territory, it also offers characteristic dishes such as gnummareddi, lamb or veal meat rolls; the lampascioni omelette, a type of wild onion; the orecchiette with turnip greens and the delicious capocollo of Martina Franca, pork loin.

The territory of the valley is dotted with wooded areas and lesser-known views but which represent a cross-section that distinguishes the murge of the trulli.

In fact, there are several itineraries that can be followed for trekking or mountain biking enthusiasts, which include the districts of the municipalities of the Itria Valley.

Among the most interesting itineraries are those along the Apulian Aqueduct canal in the various practicable sections or along the Pirro Canal, offering unforgettable scenery.

Among the most famous summer tourist locations in Salento, Porto Cesareo is certainly one of the most loved. It is located on the Ionian coast of Salento and is characterized by kilometers of crystalline beaches and natural dunes where you can breathe an almost Caribbean atmosphere.

The climate is particularly lenient, offering hot, humid and dry summers and cool, breezy winters.

Porto Cesareo: attractions, beaches and events

Opposite the seafront of Porto Cesareo stands an archipelago of islets. Among these, the best known is the so-called “Rabbit Island” which can be reached via a special boat service. In fact, the town has a small port which also houses the fish market and several boats.

The suggestive watchtowers also stand out in the territories, preserved in excellent condition, including Torre Cesarea, Torre Chianca and Torre Lapillo.

The town and the coastal area are full of small clubs, bars and restaurants where you can enjoy the exquisite typical Apulian dishes, as well as numerous hotels and tourist villages.

As for the events, these often revolve around what is organized in the beach establishments, with many different offers to meet the different tastes of tourists.

The most important religious event is that in honor of Santa Cesarea, patron saint of the town.

There is also a small “Shopping Street“, where you can make purchases.

An attraction for many holidaymakers is also the Museum of Marine Biology which was inaugurated in 1966, where valuable finds are on display ranging from Mediterranean and exotic marine fauna to invertebrates and vertebrates.

What to see in the surrounding area

A few minutes from Porto Cesareo it is possible to reach the wonderful white sand beaches of Punta Prosciutto. The Palude del Conte Park was also established here.

For those wishing to spend a day or evening in the nearest locations, Porto Cesareo has the peculiarity of being in a strategic position. Just 30 km away you can reach the historic city of Lecce and 30 minutes away the so-called “Pearl of the Ionian” Gallipoli.

Whoever decides, therefore, to spend their holidays in Puglia, or rather, in Salento, will never have time to be bored but rather will always have the opportunity to feel at home, pampered by the warmth of the people of the South.

Otranto located on the Adriatic coast, is the easternmost municipality in Italy, where it is said there is the separation point between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, almost a bridge between East and West. On the clearest days it is possible to glimpse the mountains of Albania from the coast, only 70 nautical miles away.

The historic center of Otranto

The city has its roots in very ancient times, which have left important historical and artistic testimonies in its streets, an object of admiration for the curious and tourists.

Otranto develops around the imposing Aragonese Castle and the Norman Cathedral completed and opened for worship in 1088, with its notable size it is considered the largest church in Puglia.

Walking through the streets, the alleys, the evocative monuments and the magic of the historic center give it an unparalleled charm.

The city is able to offer numerous places of interest both day and night. In fact, it is possible to spend the daytime hours on the wonderful beaches that run along the eastern coast of Salento for about 20km.

The most beautiful bays

There are numerous bays that follow one another in Otranto:

• Torre Sant’Andrea, formed by a sandy inlet, after which follows a coast characterized by high cliffs immersed in the Mediterranean scrub.

• Conca Specchiolla the coast is high and rocky, with small sandy coves. After a short while it is possible to reach Frassanito, a town with a campsite with a long sandy beach known for being a meeting place for many surfers.

• Baia dei Turchi is the place where, according to legend, the Turkish warriors landed during the 15th century siege. The bay belongs to the precious protected oasis of the Alimini Lakes, one of the most important ecosystems of Salento and Puglia.

• Santo Stefano Bay is rocky with a small beach and lots of vegetation.

• On Baia dell’Orte with a view of Capo d’Otranto, or Punta Palascia, the easternmost point of Italy, there is a cliff overlooking the sea. Here, there is a lighthouse which constitutes the access point to the “Grotta dei Cervi“, a natural coastal inlet. Furthermore, on New Year’s Eve you can witness the first sunrise of the year on the Italian peninsula.

A place not to be missed near Punta Palascia are the Bauxite Caves, a now abandoned mining deposit in which an emerald green lake has formed. The color of the water creates a very fascinating contrast with the surrounding rock walls, which shine with a beautiful intense red.

• Porto Badisco is a well-known seaside resort, a tourist destination of notable historical and landscape interest, 35 km from Lecce, 8 km from Santa Cesarea Terme and 15 km from Castro.

In the space of a few years, Otranto has become one of the most sought after destinations in Puglia, where it is possible to find everything you need for a perfect holiday.