Ugento, land whose origins are lost in the mists of time

Cattedrale di Ugento

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The many scientists who wrote about the origins of Ugento never found agree about his foundation, supporting various and conflicting hypotheses; There is, however, unanimous agreement in considering that its origin is lost in the mists of time. Evidence of this is given by the archaeological finds of prehistoric origin found in the area, including the Menhir: megalithic monuments, linked to religious practices and cults in honor of the sun consist of slender monolithic pillars placed directly in the ground. If you can see two examples on the outskirts of 'village fraction of Gemini and the farm of Terenzano, as are worthy of note are the Dolmen, tombs, who went irretrievably destroyed as a result of an intervention in the area by unsuspecting farmers .

Around 1500-1000 a. C. Messapi settled in the area; indelible mark of this settlement are the important Messapian walls whose perimeter measured about Km. 4900, with an area of ​​about 145 urban Ha.

During the Roman Empire, Ugento became part of the grand design expansionist Rome, not only as a city hall but as an ally. The outbreak of hostilities between Rome and Carthage led the city Messapiche to ally with Hannibal in the vain hope of regaining independence and therefore the ancient autonomy. So it was that the port of Ugento, as well as other ports of Messapia were used for landing, and the procurement of Hannibal's army. Alliance, this, paid a high price, because the ending of the war in favor of Rome.

In 82 BC Ugento became Roman Municipality.

In 1537 the troops of Frederick Barbarossa seized the population by surprise, and the city was again destroyed. E 'should be noted that in the 1880s, as indeed in most Italian cities, Ugento suffered a major gutting the heart of its small urban center, many huts were demolished to make way to' current Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II and all 'opening some roads that today make up the fabric of our Old Town.

Text taken from: www.comune.ugento.le.it

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One of the typical dishes: anchovies arracanate

Alici arracanate

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Spinare anchovies, rinsed well and arranged in layers in a pan greased with oil. Add the bread crumbs, garlic and chopped mint, oregano and capers to taste. Place olive oil with a dash of vinegar and cook in the oven for about 20 minutes.

Map of  Salento

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Useful Links : www.aereoportidipuglia.it  (by flight)

                     www.trenitalia.it (by train)

Typical dessert for breakfast Salento

Pasticciotto is a typical dessert of area of Salento in Puglia, consisting of pastry filled with custard and baked in the oven.
The birth of pasticciotto back at least at the beginning of the eighteenth century.

It's typical habit of Salento consume this sweet freshly baked and still warm during the early hours of the day for breakfast.

"The pasticciotto Obama" is the variant of cocoa pasticciotto traditional Lecce, created by Angelo Bisconti from Campi Salentino.

The "pasticciotto Obama", then, had arrived in New York and had been successful on the boards of the major events of the Big Apple.

Traditional pasticciotto- www.lecceholiday.it

The pasticciotto Obama                   

                               








www.corriereuniv.it           

Following  A video-tutorial where Bisconti tells how to prepare "the Obama Pasticciotto"

https://youtu.be/YR4wvqDyfoI

                                   

          

          

Ice coffee with almond milk made in Salento

With the arrival of warm, nothing better than a cold coffee with almond milk typically made in Salento, very tasty and for an after lunch and an afternoon break.

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Spaghetti with pulp of sea urchins, so sweet !

What 's more of a good and tasty dish of spaghetti with the pulp of sea urchins?

They taste so sweet and tasty that you will want to repeat the experience

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The Castle of Otranto

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The Castle, in its initial configuration, the end of '400, it appeared in
the shape of quadrangle (trapezoid rectangle), with the top four Washers (circular towers), with one facing the sea in the most protrudingposition, as is often represented in the Treaties by Francesco di Giorgio Martini.
The configuration that we see today is the result of constant changes, which affected the fortress throughout the '500, imposed by the continuous evolution and improvement of firearms.
And 'bordered on all sides by a deep moat which is exceeded at the entrance with a bridge, now with stone arch and wooden decking, probably originally type drawbridge.
A narrow corridor leads directly to the lobby of the ground floor. Crossing it known thickening of the facade built in the early '500.
All areas of the plan, developed behind the curtains outside a rectangular or square, overlooking the courtyard and are covered by systems at once.
Outside the original quadrilateral develop two environments, certainly among the most representative of the entire structure: the salt triangular and rectangular.
The triangular room that was generated by the expansion of the mid '500, when it was added outside the rampart between the two washers. Particularly striking is the vaulted ceiling of this room defined by the intersection of three nails of stone pavilion carparo that follow the particular form of the local plan.
The Chapel on the ground floor looks partially frescoed and contains within various frames and inscriptions, including those of the tomb of Donna Teresa De Azevedo, who died on February 23, 1707, to which her husband, Don Francesco de la Serna and Molina , warden at the time, devoted a tender in which the epigraph indicates which "example of modesty, the goddess of beauty, model of honesty, offspring of Spanish heroes."
Below the ground floor is a maze of tunnels, galleries and small rooms, which defines the system of "underground". These environments are of great historical value, very suggestive, remained unchanged since their construction, dating from the first plant of the end '400. Only some paths have been, with the completion of firearms, in '500, small transformations and expansions.
The basement is the place where it becomes easier to read the different stages that have characterized the construction of the Castle: the first plant of the end '400, linings and reinforcements of the curtains and some washers early' 500, the addition of the bastion triangular half of '500 and, finally, the realization of the strut seaward end of' 500.
Through a stone staircase and a covered outdoor staircase, also in stone, you can reach the balcony of the first floor, which guarantees admission to a number of environments that are modeled broadly location and setting of the ground floor.
From this level is accessed, however, within the three washers still present at the corners.
In the heart of the washers, protected by a thick external environments are circular, covered by hemispherical domes stone carparo, where they were placed bombs and cannon fire mouths oriented towards communicating with the outside.
On covers are the patrol routes, protected by thick walls with loopholes for the disposal of gunboats.
Both the external and curtains inside the atrium are some coats of arms of kings and nobles, players in the history of the Castle. Particularly interesting is the one in the front door with the emblem carved Emperor Charles V.
The fortress is the location of the first Gothic novel in history: The Castle of Otranto, by Horace Walpole (1764).

The Aragonese Castle of Otranto is currently closed to the public for work in progress.

By http://www.comune.otranto.le.it/otranto-nella-storia/da-visitare/item/castello-aragonese

Excursions to the caves of Leuca in the heel of Italy, by boat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su2jQVvRDaE&feature=youtu.be

Pescoluse, Marina of the Town of Salve

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Pescoluse

Following the reclamation of the Ionian coast of Salento, had started in 1930 and ended after World War II, the main attraction of the territory of Salve became its beaches: Pescoluse, Posto Vecchio, Torre Pali 

and LidoMarini. This makes tourism one of the main economic resources of the Municipality of Salve.

The marina of Pescoluse is undoubtedly the most popular and well-known seaside resort.

Its golden beaches, its crystal clear water, the vegetation of its sand dunes are the major attraction for tourists. For these features our beach is universally known as "the Maldives of Salento". Here you can stay at hotels, residences, villages and holiday homes, villas, apartments for rent and B&B.

More Informations : www.comunedisalve.org          www.pescoluse.info

Airports :                www.aereoportidipuglia.it