L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 10 L'Italo-Americano P uglia, the heel of I t a l y ' s b o o t , i s k n o w n f o r i t s architectural and n a t u r a l b e a u t y , excellent cuisine, and strong connection to its historical a n d c u l t u r a l r o o t s . I t i s a charming, welcoming place that manages to strike a bal- ance between modernity and the past, modern tourism and respect for the environment, regional history, culture, and traditions. I t i s t o c e l e b r a t e t h i s incredible corner of Italy that we at L'Italo-Americano l a u n c h e d o u r D r e a m o f Puglia sweepstake, with the first prize of an 8-day trip to t h e r e g i o n , s p e n t i n t h e unique and magical atmos- phere of the trulli. To get us all in the mood, let's explore some more curious and leg- endary sides of Puglia, and embrace the region's charm- ing ways! Apulian legends … O n e o f P u g l i a ' s m o s t famous natural landmarks, the Grotta della Poesia near Roca Vecchia, is associ- ated with a famous local leg- end. It is said that a beautiful princess once swam in these waters, inspiring poets and musicians to compose verses about her beauty. The name, which means "Cave of Poet- ry," is a reflection of this tale. But while the Grotta may not be known among most, Cas- tel del Monte, our second legendary destination, cer- tainly is. Built in the 13th century by Emperor Freder- ick II, the castle is surround- ed by mysteries and legends. Its unique octagonal shape and architectural precision have led to various theories about its purpose, with some believing it was a place for esoteric studies or alchemical experiments. The castle is also featured on Italy's one cent Euro coin. If we move to the regional capital, Bari, we'll find a curi- ous medieval landmark in the old city called Arco delle Streghe (Arch of the Witch- es). It is said that witches believed to transform into b l a c k c a t s a n d k n o w n a s gatte masciàre, would gather under this arch at night to p e r f o r m t h e i r r i t u a l s i n secret. Locals would make t h e s i g n o f t h e c r o s s a n d recite prayers to ward off any curses if they encountered a black cat near the arch. And, as the lucky winner of our sweepstake will stay in a trullo, let's move to Albero- bello, and into its Siamese Trulli, which stand out due to their peculiar double-cone structure and two separate entrances. Legend has it that two brothers once lived here, b u t a f e u d o v e r a w o m a n c a u s e d t h e m t o s p l i t t h e house into two distinct but identical halves. Last but not least, let's look into the story b e h i n d t h e c r e a t i o n o f strascinati, a famous type of Pugliese pasta, similar to orecchiette but larger in size. Strascinati are made only with flour and water. They g e t t h e i r n a m e f r o m t h e m e t h o d o f d r a g g i n g t h e dough on a wooden board to form its shape. According to legend, in 1494, two condot- tieri named Paolo and Camil- l o w e r e f i g h t i n g a l o n g Charles VIII in his campaign to conquer the Kingdom of Naples. Hosted in a castle, they were displeased with the food prepared for them, so a young lady created strasci- nati to bring peace. … And Apulian icons I f w e t a l k a b o u t i c o n e pugliesi we must start with the trulli. Puglia's iconic whitewashed stone huts with conical roofs, the trulli are unique architectural struc- t u r e s f o u n d p r i m a r i l y i n Alberobello. They date back to the 14th century and are r e c o g n i z e d a s a U N E S C O World Heritage Site. Along- side the trulli, masserie are traditional Pugliese farm- houses. Originally, they were fortified structures to protect a g a i n s t M o o r i s h a t t a c k s . Today, they have been trans- formed into luxurious hotels and event spaces. The term masserize, from which they g e t t h e i r n a m e , r e f e r s t o household objects kept with- in these stone constructions. Puglia is also home to vast g r o v e s o f m o n u m e n t a l olive trees, some of which are several centuries old; t h e y a r e a v i t a l p a r t o f Puglia's landscape and cul- tural heritage, and still signif- icantly contribute to Italy's olive oil production. Efforts are continually made to pro- tect them from diseases like the xylella bacteria. M o v i n g t o m o r e u r b a n landscapes, we encounter the " F l o r e n c e o f t h e S o u t h , " Lecce, famous for its exquis- ite Baroque architecture. The city is dotted with ornate buildings and churches, like the Basilica di Santa Croce a n d t h e L e c c e C a t h e d r a l . L e c c e i s a l s o h o m e t o a Roman Amphitheater, yet another reason why Lecce is considered an Apulian cul- tural hotspot. Gallipoli was called Kale polis by the Greeks, meaning "Beautiful City." It is a coastal gem on the Salentina Penin- sula, located on a limestone island connected to the main- l a n d b y a 1 6 t h - c e n t u r y bridge. Highlights include t h e H e l l e n i c F o u n t a i n , Angevin Castle, and beautiful b e a c h e s l i k e P u n t a d e l l a Suina. GIULIA FRANCESCHINI A walk through Puglia between legends and beauty Ancient, beautiful and somehow mysterious: the trulli are all this and more (Photo Michele Ursi/Dreamstime) An Apulian masseria (Photo: Michele Ursi/Dreamstime) ALL AROUND ITALY TRAVEL TIPS DESTINATIONS ACTIVITIES

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