If you want to truly understand Italy, you should venture beyond the well-trodden paths of the major tourist destinations and immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry of southern Italy.
Southern Italy, often overlooked in favor of cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice, offers a glimpse into the heart and soul of the country. This region is a captivating blend of history, tradition, and natural beauty that provides a unique perspective on Italian life.
The 'Mezzogiorno' - what the inhabitants call the southern Italy - boasts a distinctive character shaped by centuries of diverse influences, including Greek, Roman, Arab, and Norman civilizations. It is a place where ancient ruins like Pompeii and Herculaneum tell stories of the past, where vibrant local markets burst with colors and flavors, and where the pace of life is delightfully slow.
The warm hospitality of the people, the melodious cadence of the southern Italian dialects, and the variety of culinary treasures reveal Italy's true character.
The beating heart of Salento, Lecce enchants visitors with its stunning Baroque historic centre and the splendid sea right on its doorstep.
Lecce has an unmistakable style, with monuments dating back to Roman times and, most notably, its extraordinary 17th-century buildings that proudly bare the characteristic blonde colour of the local stone. The atmosphere is vibrant and bustling.
During the day, you can while away the hours sunbathing on its beaches, only a few kilometres from the city. In the evening, the city centre will entice you with its elegant, timeless alleyways and delicious local delicacies.
Polignano a Mare is arguably one of the most romantic spots in Puglia, a craggy slice of land with several caves that has seen its fair share of invaders throughout history along its limestone cliffs. The historical white-watched Medieval town is just as pleasant as the adjoining coastline. It should also ne noted that Polignano is famous throughout the world for cliff diving.
Polignano a Mare has proven itself to be a destination in its own right. Whether you’re passing through on a longer road trip of the region, or visiting on a weekend break, the town where poetry lines the streets has plenty to entertain - especially on a warm summer’s day.
There are some Italian towns that are particularly enchanting, like the Puglian town of Locorotondo. It’s one of the borghi più belli d'Italia - a collection of the most beautiful and historically significant small towns in the country.
Locorotondo means ‘round place’, reflecting the Puglian town’s design, a fascinating circular labyrinth of narrow streets which wind up to the sleepy central piazza with an elegant neoclassical church.
Perched on a hilltop in the sun-drenched Valle d'Itria in Puglia, you’ll find Locorotondo nestled in the idyllic southern Italian countryside of stone farmhouses, olive groves, and vineyards.
Fifty miles south of Naples, on the western Italian coast, lie the ruins of the ancient Greek colony of Poseidonia, now known by its Roman name, Paestum. Some say this complex is the best-preserved examples of classical Greek temples.
The walled city claims not one but three remarkably intact Greek temples that had been abandoned and ignored—surrounded by a fetid, pestilential, and protective swamp—from medieval times until their "rediscovery" by archaeologists, historians, and architects in the eighteenth century.
If you're looking for an adrenaline rush, you can find it in the remote mountains of Basilicata.
Il volo dell’Angelo (Flight of Angels) is one of the longest, highest and fastest ziplines in the world, spanning a distance just shy of 1.5km, at an altitude of up to 1020m, and reaching a top speed of 120km/hr.
The Flight of the Angels connects the picturesque mountaintop towns of Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano.
Alberobello is a small Italian town where the streets are narrow and hilly, houses are white, the weather is pleasant and life is slow.
It is the trulli - the small houses with conical roofs are dotted everywhere around you. You feel as though you've arrived in a world created by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Alberobello has been a UNESCO World Heritage sit since 1996 thanks to the unique architectural and historical value of the trulli. Today, many trulli have been transformed into guest houses for visitors. Spending a few nights in them is truly a mythical experience!
Matera is definitely off the beaten track. But the drive across the interior of southern Italy is 100% worth it.
This city, one of the oldest continually inhabited in the world (we're talking millennia, not centuries), is perhaps one of the most fascinating you may ever visit.
Carved into the rock, Matera is composed of a network of caves (or 'stassi') inhabited since the Paleolithic era. Unknown to much of Italy, the city hid a society living in poverty; malaria was rife and families lived alongside their animals within the caves as recently as the 1950s.
Many of these caves have been transformed into boutique hotels and high-end restaurants.
Many filmmakers have used Matera as a stand-in for ancient Jerusalem in biblical movies. Most recently, 'No Time To Die,' the latest installment of the James Bond franchise filmed in the city's streets.
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