Maruggio

One of the ‘Borghi più Belli d'Italia’ (Italy's Most Beautiful Villages), Maruggio now has about 5,000 inhabitants and is located on the Ionian-Salentine coast of Apulia with its wonderful sea. Founded in 963 and annexed in about 1100 to the Terra d'Otranto (Land of Otranto) under the Order of the Knights Templar, it then passed to the Knights of Malta who defended it from Turkish pirates and built, in the 15th century, the splendid church Chiesa Madre Santissima Natività di Maria Vergine. The historical centre is a small labyrinth of narrow, winding streets lined by ancient whitewashed dwellings with Renaissance balconies of rare beauty. The landscape of Maruggio is dominated by impressive centuries-old olive trees, traditional masseria farmsteads, votive chapels and the majestic stone trulli (conical houses). Local culinary traditions are closely linked to fishing and agricultural production, such as pipaluri spritti (fried sweet chili peppers) and fai e foji (broad bean and vegetable purée), as well as the two bakery specialities made exclusively in Maruggio: li puddichi, spiced bread baked in all homes at Easter time, and li pezzuri, oven-baked calzones, stuffed pizza envelopes. Maruggio hosts a series of events, including ‘La Strada dei Saperi e dei Sapori’ (The Way of Knowledge and Flavours) and other traditional and religious festivities, such as the feast of the Patron Saints St. John and St. Christopher (13 - 14 July).