- FEBRUARY 2018 -
Puglia
Nature and Landscape
Gravina di Laterza The Arizona of Puglia
by Antonio Sigismondi The magnificent, wild Gravina di Laterza is part of the Terra delle Gravine regional natural park and contains flora and fauna of enormous scientific significance. The earliest human settlements in the area date back to 2000 B.C. and the urban center of Laterza, lying on the edge of the gorge, to around the year 1000 November 2017
Alta Murgia National Park The lost world of dry stone architecture
by Antonio Sigismondi A landscape with a unique identity, in the Alta Murgia, molded over the years by shepherds and farmers.Dry stone architecture, based on simple, age-old techniques, offers genuine works of art in an immense open-air museum March 2017
Majestic giants
A superb photo collection dedicated to Puglia’s age-old olive trees in the precious volume from publishers Artebaria of Martina Franca: Ulivi Monumentali di Puglia, itinerari tra gli ulivi millenari in terra di Puglia, by Giovanni Resta, with the collaboration of Michele Bruno.Text in Italian and in English and with images care of Resta himself, the volume reveals the author’s passionate love for these wonderful plants.
The itineraries on the trail of the most ancient and spectacular of trees wind in and out of eight different areas: Salento (Province of Lecce), Taranto, Brindisi, Ostuni, Serranova, Fasano, Monopoli and Gargano.
It is no wonder that these olive trees are being considered for status and recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage December 2015
Among the giants of Salento
A book with a vast array of images, entirely devoted to Salento's marvelous age-old olive trees, by Roberto Gennaio July 2015
Je suis “Ulivo” Let’s save Puglia’s olive trees
by Lino Patruno The heartfelt appeal of one of Puglia’s great journalists.The people of Puglia see the cutting down of their olive trees, the measure chosen to fight Xylella bacteria, as a brutality and olive-growers are calling for a return to ancient farming practices May 2015
Saline dei Monaci A sweet refuge for birdlife along the Ionian coast
by Emanuela Rossi and Salvatore Inguscio This wetland was where Benedictine monks settled and made salt probably as far back as the year 1000. It was being destroyed by cement and neglect.Thanks to the creation in 2002 of the Regional Nature Reserve, today it is a tiny paradise of flora and fauna September 2014
FLORA
It is edible and very tasty September 2014
Glaucous glasswort
by Piero Medagli Found in the Saline dei Monaci area, it is a salt-loving plant, very hard to tell from similar species.It is edible and very tasty September 2014
FAUNA
The flamingo
by Giuseppe La Gioia These magnificent big purple tinged birds are found in various parts of Puglia. In the Saline dei Monaci at Torre Colimena as many as five hundred of them have been seen together September 2014
Salento’s pajari When architecture is in harmony with nature
by Domenico Tangaro Constructed in dry stone, these fascinating rural buildings were used as shelters from the elements on farms.The architect Domenico Tangaro has depicted them, both in detail and immersed in the landscape, in a series of ink drawings May 2014
Amidst cave bats and magnificent vallonea oaks
by Francesco Minonne In the Regional Natural Park “Otranto-Santa Maria di Leuca Coast and Tricase Woods” some very interesting projects have been started for the protection of biodiversity, especially of the bats and the stunning monumental vallonea oaks, which are unique in the whole of western Europe March 2014
FLORA
The vallonea oak
by Francesco Minonne A majestic eastern tree in south coastal Salento March 2014
FAUNA
The greater horseshoe bat
by Emanuela Rossi and Salvatore Inguscio This cave bat has a lively, combative nature, and a strange nose. Faithful to its mate March 2014
Litorale di Ugento nature park The Salento paradise for migratory birds
by Marco DadamoManager of the Litorale di Ugento Park Sandy shores, maquis and olive groves are its distinguishing features. But it’s the basins behind the beach that make it precious for the migratory birds that travel between Northern Europe, the Balkans and North Africa July 2013
FLORA
Cretan cornflower
by Fabio Ippolito and Piero Medagli The mystery of its presence in Salento, at Torre San Giovanni (Ugento), the only site indicated in Italy, in 1996 July 2013
FAUNA
Their favorite habitat is that of the basins on the Ugento coastline July 2013
The mute swan
by Giuseppe La Gioia One of the most elegant and best-loved birds, mute swans come to Puglia from central and eastern Europe in the coldest of winters.Their favorite habitat is that of the basins on the Ugento coastline July 2013
Margherita di Savoia salt flats The kingdom of birdlife
by Enzo Cripezzi It’s the largest salt flat in Italy, the most important in Europe, an international stopover for thousands of migratory birds.Frederick II probably went hunting with his hawks here June 2013
FAUNA
In the Margherita di Savoia salt flats more than 4,700 wintering birds have been observed June 2013
The avocet
by Giuseppe La Gioia It is one of the most elegant waders.In the Margherita di Savoia salt flats more than 4,700 wintering birds have been observed June 2013
Punta della Contessa Realm of rare plants and migratory birds
by Fabio Ippolito and Piero Medagli A regional nature park since 2002, the ponds and the salt flats of Punta della Contessa, while bordering on some mighty industrial works, constitute a precious habitat for migratory birds and rare plants April 2013
FLORA
In Puglia it is present in several places, amongst which “Saline di Punta della Contessa” April 2013
Hairy smotherweed
by Piero Medagli and Fabio Ippolito A minute, unremarkable, rare plant which is at risk of becoming extinct.In Puglia it is present in several places, amongst which “Saline di Punta della Contessa” April 2013
FAUNA