Puglia is famous for its crystalline sea, its beaches with Caribbean charm and its lush hinterland of lush green forests. White, green and blue are therefore the first colors that come to mind when thinking of Puglia. Blue is that of the sea, green is that of the centuries-old vineyards and olive groves, and white is the predominant color of the ancient villages that, overlooking the sea or half-hidden in the hinterland, dot the territory with their whitewashed houses.
The white cities of Puglia are places where time seems to be suspended, where the dazzling white dominates, coloring the houses, streets and buildings of these cities. The choice of white was not random, nor was it dictated exclusively by aesthetic issues.
Between the Middle Ages and the Modern Age, this stretch of coast was often attacked and plundered by the Saracens and the white houses, reflecting the sunlight, blinded the raiders, giving a strategic advantage to the population that had to defend itself. Secondly, there is a hygienic reason why the white of the lime was chosen, a readily available material that could be easily restored. Especially in the Middle Ages there was the belief that lime, being a renewable material, was able to prevent the spread of the plague. Finally, there is a climatic reason, since white lime guarantees considerable thermal insulation. The buildings of the beautiful white cities are therefore cool in summer and warm in winter, significantly increasing the living comfort of those who live there.
One of the brightest white cities in Puglia is Ostuni which, thanks to the lime that covers most of its buildings, shines with its own light. It stands on three hills, while the Aragonese walls that surround it act as a shield. Another splendid Apulian village is Locorotondo, where you can admire the cummerse, houses with triangular roofs. Martina Franca is the most noble of the towns in the Itria Valley and is a real city. Even today it retains its appeal as a noble and elegant city, whose richness emerges in the architecture of the buildings, where the Rococo gives a hand to the Lecce Baroque. Cisternino, a few kilometers from the sea, is one of the most beautiful villages in Puglia: its historic center is full of white buildings. It is the famous home of butchers-grills where you can taste the “bombette”, a typical skewer of meat that is cooked in the oven directly in the butcher’s shop and can be tasted outside the place, which is neither a pub nor a meat shop in the strict sense: it is both, the Braceria in fact.
Ceglie Messapica is one of the oldest cities in Puglia. Its very ancient origins are revealed in its very name: it was inhabited by the ancient population of the Messapians who came from Illyria and settled between the eighth and third centuries BC. However, it is only around 1100 that it is mentioned in a document that tells of the disputes for pastures with nearby Ostuni. You must try the Cegliese biscuit, which smells of lemon and is made with almonds and honey with a heart of jam. It is a typical product that is the pride and joy of the Cegliesi who have jealously passed down the recipe for at least 300 years.
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