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Among the canyons scattered like the ribs of a fan around the gulf of Taranto, Laterza is the most spectacular of all. It is one of the biggest canyons of Europe with an extension of 12 km and even up to 500 metres wide in some points. Among massive rock walls consumed by erosion and smooth whitish limestone walls, you can admire the beauties of fauna and flora, as well as the signs of past human civilizations who chose these caves as dwellings.
Laterza has a very old history. The excavations of the sixties in the area of Candile brought up finds dating back to the year 2000 b.C. Situated along the Via Appia, which connected Taranto to Rome, the most celebrated Roman street is still visible in certain points. Many finds from Ancient Greece have also been extracted from the ground, but also from the Roman period and the Middle Ages; all this bears evidence to how Laterza has been an important centre for ceramic production since the most distant ages. Starting from the Middle Ages, the town developed its activities in the production of the precious white and glossy majolica. The shapes, decorations and colours used by Laertan ceramists are absolutely special and are a distinguishing feature in the national ceramic production.