Welcome to Italy !! Now you are in Italy ! The red region is APULIA ! Italy looks like a boot and Apulia is its hell! Welcome to the “ HELL OF ITALY”

HERE IS TARANTO !! Taranto is one of the five provinces of Apulia. It is in the heart of the gulf that takes its name !

TARANTO, THE CITY OF THE “TWO SEAS” THE IONIO SEA FITS IN THE GULF, MAKING TWO INLETS, ONE BIGGER, (“THE BIG SEA”) AND ONE SMALLER (“THE SMALL SEA”).THE TWO SEAS ARE SEPARATED BY AN ISLE ON WHICH IS THE OLD CITY, FOUNDED BY THE ANCIENT GREEKS, SINCE 700 C. B.C.

MUSSELS CULTIVATION IN THE “SMALL SEA” MUSSELS ARE CULTIVATED AND EXPORTED TO THE WHOLE ITALY. THEY HAVE A UNIQUE TASTE AND YOU’LL TASTE THEM !!

TARANTO IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HEADQUARTERS OF THE ITALIAN NAVY THE SAILORS’ STATUE

THE SWING BRIDGE AND THE ARAGONESE CASTLE THE SWING BRIDGE OPENS ITS TWO “ARMS” TO PERMIT THE PASSAGE OF THE BIG SHIPS OF THE ITALIAN NAVY. IT CONNECTS THE NEW CITY TO THE OLD CITY. ACTUALLY THE CASTLE IS THE SEAT OF THE NAVY.

THE “DORIC COLUMNS” THE RUINS OF A GREAT DORIC TEMPLE CONSECRATED TO NEPTUNE ARE REPRESENTED BY TWO TALL COLUMNS (VI C. B.C.)

THE ISLE THE ISLE OVERLOOKS THE TWO SEAS FROM ITS TWO OPPOSITE SIDES. HERE,THE CITY WAS FOUNDED BY THE ANCIENT GREEKS.

THE OLD CITY THE OLD CITY IS A CHARACTERISTIC PLACE, BECAUSE OF ITS VERY ANCIENT HOMES AND VERY NARROW STREETS.

The city of Grottaglie is 25 km far from Taranto. It’ s the land of excellent wines. The historical center has medieval and baroque imprint. The Mother church dates from XI-XII c. The castle was built in the XVI century.

Grottaglie became famous for its craftsman production of ceramics. The most ancient ceramics’ shops are located in charming caves, in the typical “ceramic neighbourhood”.

Alberobello is in the area of Bari ( 40km from Taranto).It’s a city protected by UNESCO, because it’s unique all over the world : it’s the city of the “ TRULLI” !!

A “trullo” is a typical home made of stone.The conic roof is composed by stones ( called “chiancarelle”) without the use of any cement, because in ancient time the peasants can put the roof quickly down to avoid to pay taxes, when the king’s guards went to ceck. Then, they could easily re-buid it ! On the top of it, there is a white nice pinnacle.The base is circular.

The trulli also have a magic,religious and esoteric meaning, in fact on the roof you’ll see a lot of symbols.

On a hill, dominated by the Cathedral, is the ancient town of the “ WHITE” Ostuni.

GETTING AROUND THE WHITE TOWN

Lecce is one of the five apulian provinces.It’s about 100 km from Taranto. It’ s wellknown to be the city of the baroque art.It’s rich, elegant and cultured.

The roman amphitheatre A particular of the Cathedral with its baroque style.

Every summer the beaches around the city of Lecce are” taken by storm” by many and many tourists from all Europe …..Here is the reason :