Maruggio (source: Visual Puglia )
Maruggio is situated between Manduria and the Ionian Sea, in the midst of trulli, olive orchards, and vineyards, close to a crystal-clear sea. It was probably founded in 963, after the Saracens destroyed the ancient hamlets of Olivaro, Castigno, San Nicolò and Civitecchia. However, most historiographers maintain that Maruggio became the property of the Knights of Malta in 1317, when the widow of de Pandis donated her fiefdom to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. In 1637 the town was sacked by Islamic armies. The system of defence built by Charles V with its many towers guarding the coast and the walls encircled by moats built with the efforts of the Knight commanders proved useless. The trulli in the countryside around Maruggio are one of the main settlements after the Itria Valley, in the zone to the south of the lands of the countryside including Manduria, Maruggio e Torricella. During the summer, tourism is concentrated mainly in the seaside town of Campomarino, a suburb of Maruggio where crystal-clear seas wash splendid white beaches.
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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