Grottaglie description and photos - Italy: Ionian coast (Topic)

Grottaglie description and photos - Italy: Ionian coast. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Grottaglie.

Photo and description

Grottaglie is a small resort town in the province of Taranto in the Italian region of Apulia. It is located on the Salento peninsula that separates the Adriatic and Ionian seas. The outskirts of the city are dotted with deep gorges and canyons, which gave the city its name: the word "grottaglie" comes from the Latin Kryptae Aliye, which means "many gorges". These gorges were inhabited by people back in the Paleolithic era. The historical part of Grottaglie in the Middle Ages was known as Casale Cryptalerum - it was founded by the inhabitants of the caves, who found refuge here from the raids of pirates. In the 11th century, Grottaglia became the possession of the bishops of Taranto, and in the 14th century fortifications, defensive walls, the Castello Episcopio castle and the Chiesa Matrice church were built here. Only in 1806 was feudal law abolished, and after the unification of Italy, Grottaglie was one of the first cities to develop outside the medieval walls.

Today Grottaglie is famous for its ceramics and grape groves. In Taranto, the Greater Greece National Museum houses many of the antique ceramics found in the Grottaglie area. Every year, the city hosts various festivals dedicated to ceramics - the exhibition "Ceramics in the Land of Ceramics", the Mediterranean Ceramics Competition, an exhibition of ceramic Christmas nurseries, etc.

Of the sights of Grottaglie, one can name the very Castello Episcopio , the massive Baroque Palazzo Cicinelli in the main town square, Palazzo Urselli with a Romanesque facade and 15th century gate, Palazzo Majulli-Comet, the Baroque Palazzo Blasi, the convent of San Francesco di Paola with a splendid courtyard and cloister, the Chiesa del Carmine church with a 16th century stone nativity scene and the city's chapel known as Purgatory.

We also recommend reading Puppet Theater E. S. Demmeni description and photo - Russia - St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg

Topic: Grottaglie description and photos - Italy: Ionian coast.