Magazine

Otranto, east side of Puglia

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Otranto, facing towards the east, with its castle and cathedral, one of the most important witnesses of the Apulian Romanesque. Here you can admire the large Mosaic floor, millions of multicolored tiles that tell the story of the Old Testament, the cycle of each month of the year combined with the signs of Zodiac and the three of life along with themes from the chivalry cycles. It is one of the most important mosaic of the Italian Middle Ages.

Those who have the time to take a plunge in one of the most beautiful natural swimming pool, have to turn and go towards Torre dell’ Orso. On the coastline of Roca Vecchia you find Grotta della Poesia, an ancient place of worship invaded by the sea, whose walls are covered with mysterious inscriptions. There are many stories on this cave: From the story of a princess who loved to bathe, to the poets who came to the cave looking for inspiration. According to some people the water of the cave could give you eternal youth, according to others it is a gracious place to the oaths of love.

The truth is that during these days of autumn you most probably will be alone. Legends aside, having such an amazing miracle of nature all for you is not bad at all.

Find her more villas in Puglia and near Otranto.

The beauties of Canosa di Puglia

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Canosa di Puglia, agricultural center situated on a hill position, had its moment of maximum splendor and wealth between VI and III century B.C., when it was one of the most important place of terracotta pots production. The importance of Canosa di Puglia is also testified by the numerous underground tombs, dug into the tuff: they were real bedrooms with rich architectural decorations of oriental influences (famous is the tomb of Gold jewelry, whose relics are kept at the Archaeological Museum of Taranto). This period of prosperity faced a first break with the submission of the city to Rome and the tragic events of the battle of Cannae (216 BC): we will hear again about Canusium during the Augustan age, when it rised to the municipium rank. After the fall of the Roman Empire a new town took shape thanks to the bishop Sabino, who built many churches in the northeast slope of the hill. However, the destiny of the city was already outlined: the Byzantines preferred Bari and despite the short-lived revival desired by the Normans with the construction of the Cathedral, the city fell into anonymity.

In addition to the cathedral, among other interesting monuments there is the Iliceto Palace where there is the Civic Museum, the underground tombs of Lagrasta – one of the several Hellenistic era monuments -, the Sinesi Palace, headquarter of the archeological Foundation Canosa which offers interesting archeological exhibits, the Baptistery of St. John – built by Bishop Sabino over a Roman temple.

Learn more about Trullis in Puglia.

Best Beaches Puglia

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Summer has finished, but we are still in need of a nice day of relaxation and fun at the beach, maybe in one of the gorgeous spots of Salento or why not even on the Gargano peninsula.

Today we will discover the ten most beautiful beaches of Salento! Here’s the list of the best destinations for sea lovers:

Baia dei Turchi: takes its name from the Turkish invasion during the sixteenth century, which was aimed at converting people to Islam. The free beach is of great interest from a naturalistic point of view.

Torre dell’Orso: the myth says that two young girls, bathing in the sea during a storm, died in the attempt to save themselves. The sacrifice struck the gods and, in remembrance of the fact, they shaped two sea stacks in a way that they looked embraced with one another.

Lido degli Angeli: stunning sea and sand, especially when the wind blows from the North. The water becomes quickly deep which makes it perfect for swim lovers.

Porto Selvaggio: water is simply gorgeous, the beach is rocky. The cliffs are noteworthy too for their beauty.

Pescoluse: water and sand are truly incredible, so as to be compared to the Maldives. There is a free beach equipped with basic facilities.

Ponte Ciolo: a deep gorge, with a long stone staircase to reach the sea. What makes it even more special is a cave which is accessible only by sea.

Porto Badisco: in this place the vicissitudes of the Aeneid take place within a beautiful scenery. The graffiti in the Deer Cave, are perfect for lovers of symbolic places. Even the sand and the rocks, together with the water, offer a unique natural setting.

Punta Pizzo: it is a place of Caribbean appearance, which is also a protected area, where sand, rocks, crystal clear water and a pine forest, create a place of unique beauty for a day of relaxation.

Roca Vecchia – Cave of Poetry: in this corner of Salento, the small coves and the archaeological park offer a unique scenery, allowing the visitor to immerse himself in the traditional “Messapi” daily life, the antique population of the region . The beauty of the Cave of Poetry is also unforgettable.

Torre Sant’Andrea – Conca Specchiulla: we conclude our overview with a lovely rocky place, where the stacks embrace the clear waters.

Castel del Monte, Puglia: between Fibonacci, esotericism and history

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Castel del Monte, Puglia: between Fibonacci, esotericism and history.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Castel del Monte was built by Emperor Federico II in the thirteenth century, 18 km from the town of Andria, Puglia.

Castel del Monte has been studied by historians, architects and mere observers, based on very different assumptions and beliefs, sometimes irreconcilable: some see it “simply” as a magnificent building, a masterpiece of style, a comfortable mansion; others consider it a temple of high spirituality, an esoteric book, the culmination of the initiatory knowledge.

Castel del Monte is affected by the legendary and totalizing personality of Federico II and everything in the castle is based on the magic number 8. Moreover, the castle has many symbolic, mathematical and geometrical matches. The floors, fireplaces, windows, everything seems to follow the sequence of the famous mathematician Fibonacci.

References to astronomy are not missing: the columns at the entrance have two lions, one of them looks exactly in the direction where the sun rises during the winter solstice, while the other looks in the direction where the sun rises during the summer solstice.

If you go to Apulia, do not miss the opportunity to visit this magic castle!

Salento during fall, deep blue sea

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Salento during fall, deep blue sea

From Otranto to Porto Cesareo no sign of someone, white villages surrounded by olive trees, sand dunes and cliffs caressed by the wind. Last swim, here we come!
This is the time that the sweetness of the sun covers the sea by rare and beautiful colors. You can look at the sea from a cliff, walking along the Mediterranean scrub lands, and the Adriatic sea water has the deep blue color of the sky.
Within one hour you are on the other side; enchanted by the transparent Ionian Caribbean, with its amazing white beaches.
The scent of juniper, rosemary and the lovely shade of the pinewoods welcome you. This extreme offspring of Puglia, jutting out between two seas just like the bow of a ship, shows the best coast every day, depending on the direction of the wind. Just ask the local people. Where would it be best to go today? Towards San Foca or Gallipoli instead? You turn the car and cross Salento. Or you go down South, in the direction of Santa Maria di Leuca. It is really worth it, even if it is just to admire the sunset and the lighthouse illuminating Punta Meliso, which shines over the shoreline since the second half of ‘800.