Puglia

In the Taranto-area town of San Marzano di San Giuseppe one can find an Albanian (Arbëreshe) enclave that still follows its original customs and traditions. In order to protect this small yet great heritage, the municipality has set up a Municipal Linguistic Desk, which studies and promotes local culture and relations with other Italo-Albanian communities.

A trip to Castel del Monte, a medieval fortress of extraordinary beauty, is literally not to be missed. Characterized by the number 8 (8 octagonal towers, 8 rooms on each floor), the light colour of the materials (coral breach, limestone and marble) and the position provides a game of light and shadow on equinox days. Interpretations abound as to its function: perhaps it was a place to relax, an astronomical observatory, a place for ceremonies and rituals, or a temple. What is certain is that it was not a building for defensive purposes, as the moat is missing.

Roca Vecchia (Lecce) is home to one of the most evocative natural shows in southern Italy: the Grotta della Poesia, a natural pool of crystal-clear water that shows off its beauty with a giant opening in the cliff and is connected to the sea by an underground passage. To be accurate, there are two caves: Poesia Piccola and Poesia Grande, which are interconnected and from Poesia Grande it is possible to access the open sea. Why is it called the “Grotta della Poesia” (Cave of Poetry)? Legend has it that a beautiful young woman used to bathe in the large natural pool and that artists and poets were charmed and chose her as the muse for their artworks.