San Marzano di San Giuseppe (source: Visual Puglia )
Situated on a plateau between Sava and Fragagnano, S.Marzano di San Giuseppe is an agricultural centre rich in vineyards and olive groves. In the XIV century, the hamlet was just called San Marzano and, still uninhabited, was incorporated in the possessions of the Prince of Taranto, Giovanni Antonio Orsini. In the XV century, the Aragonese conquered these lands, also with the help of George Castriota Skanderbeg’s Albanian troops. In the XVI century, many Albanians fled from the Turks’ attacks and found refuge in this area: that is when San Marzano was established with a new life, with the help of royal privileges. The Albanian colony grew and imported habits, costumes and rituals of their homeland. In 1530, the Albanian Captain Demetrio Capuzzimati was appointed by King Charles V as Baron of San Marzano. It was in this period that the Seignory was progressively enlarged and became a prosperous Greek orthodox centre. In the subsequent centuries, the feud passed into the hands of the Taurisano family and then of the Castriota family, which held it up to the end of the XVIII century. It was only in September 1886 that the town took its current name, “San Marzano di San Giuseppe”, in its patron saint’s honour. The preservation of the Albanian language is today the tangible sign of this history and remains the distinguishing feature of the this community within the Ionian province.
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Taranto and its province have their most ancient roots in rock settlements and Greek culture. Two civilizations which developed well in this area of Southern Apulia thanks the conformation of a land once rich in water and very fertile, so much that Greek settlers were attracted by it and founded Taranto in 706 b.C. The presence of water courses, now flowing underground, is also witnessed by the several caves and creeks one can see in this area. A result of erosion, they are an ideal scenario for the development of those rock-settlement civilizations that spread over the whole region and particularly in Taranto area. Today, this province show a slightly sharper aspect in its inland, sandy sea beds and limpid sea in Taranto Gulf area. Ancient civilizations are still visible in the charm of wonderful landscapes included in natural settings.
In Taranto Murge there are deep ravines resulting from the action of ancient rivers as well as several karstic caves where a flourishing rock-settlement civilization rose since prehistory. Often a haven for shepherds and peasants, these same caves were used in Middle Ages as a place of worship by Basilian monks. Traces and witnesses of rock settlements, hypogeous hamlets and frescoed walls can be seen near Mottola and Massafra
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In Taranto province inland area, characterized by a green landscape, olive groves and vineyards, there are several small towns like Manduria or Grottaglie, which roots can be found in ancient Messapi civilization. These towns often offer very interesting archeological and naturalistic parks
The Ionian coast is characterized by wide beaches and a limpid water sloping gently into deepness. Cities such as Taranto, also known as the "city of two seas" stand over this coast, and Pulsano with their tourist vocation and famous local food
Project created in collaboration with InnovaPuglia.
Regione Puglia
Regione Puglia