The gannet, the sea, the soul… What to add? Puglia is one of the most luxuriant and flourishing regions of Italy: a magical place, where uncontested nature allows you to enjoy wonderful views and breathtaking views. To the magnificence and transparency of its sea, we add the historical beauties, such as cathedrals, churches, monuments and museums. Puglia smells of pizzica, of warmth and joy, and hides priceless secrets among its immense expanses of olive trees, kissed by the sun. Let's find out together the seven legends of Puglia, which perhaps not everyone knows!
The seven legends of Puglia: the first cases
First of all, is the nice (and scam) case of trulli of Alberobello. The oldest specimens even date back to ancient times, in fact they belong to the fourteenth century. The trulli of that period were a bit particular, in fact they were built without mortar, to be able to tear them down easily if there were controls by emissaries of the Kingdom of Naples. This is because, even at that time, the taxes were very high for new homes!
The second legend always deals with the trulli, but in a more romanticized way. It is said that the strange case of the trulli Siamese is the result of a troubled love story. This saw, according to the story, two brothers madly in love with the same woman. Both men remained to live in the same trullo, which however was divided in two, as if to symbolize that blood ties can unite, but also divide. Continuing with the curiosities, certainly a very special one reveals itself, the one about Apulian farms. These were once considered to be micro villages, where both the bourgeois and the servants lived together. The events that could arise from this coexistence were not always pleasant, but they represented a very happy way of bringing social classes and their habits together.
Another rather spectacular curiosity is the so-called Fòcara of Novoli. This festival, which is celebrated in January, represents both a religious and a secular moment, in fact the patron saint of the city is celebrated, but with a pinch of extra joy. A huge bonfire is lit for the occasion (the largest in the Mediterranean) and the anniversary is celebrated with famous singers and live music!
Finally ... the ghosts and witches that haunt Puglia!
Like any self-respecting legend, even in this case there is no shortage Underworld creatures and spirits to terrorize Salento. One of the most terrifying legends concerns the ghosts of the Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Leuca. This sacred place primarily preserves a story that does not concern the world of the dead, that is, that of Minerva. The place on which the sanctuary stands was dedicated to the goddess, following a challenge won against Neptune, since she had preferred to give the population a olive Tree (which is still the symbol of the territory today).
Also in this splendid place there are other local beliefs. It is said that many souls of the dead come here on pilgrimage, in order to reach Heaven faster. The thrilling stories of Puglia, however, are not limited to this basilica: the screams and songs of the witches can be heard at night throughout the Salento. Legend has it that, on dark and stormy nights, these evil sorceresses dance and scream in the rocky cavities, taking away anyone who enters them. Chilling stories and ancestral myths, these curious legends of Puglia await you in every corner of the city ... and beyond!
