EDITORIAL
T
he awards for the wonders of Puglia have been confirmed. In a ceremony held in Rome the FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) has decided for yet another year the prestigious “Blue Flags”, awards for the quality of the sea and the hospitality offered. The 11 Blue Flags won last year by Puglia have been confirmed. There are four winning localities in Salento: the seaside villages of Melendugno, Otranto, Castro and Salve. In the Brindisi area awards went to Fasano, Ostuni and Carovigno; Castellaneta and Ginosa in the Taranto area, Margherita di Savoia in the BAT zone and Polignano a Mare in the province of Bari. They are all places not to be missed, each with its own particular character. Polignano, with its houses built on rock, is a unique sight. The Ionian coast has fabulous water and long beaches with dunes covered in wild lilies in summer: from Salve, in the southern-most tip of Salento, whose Blue Flag has been confirmed for the ninth year running, with its beaches of Pescoluse (“the Maldives of Salento”), Torre Pali, Posto Vecchio and Lido Marini, to Castellaneta Marina and Ginosa. Fasano, Ostuni and Carovigno, as well as white beaches with high dunes and the sparkling blue Adriatic, offer an amazing landscape of ancient olive groves, some of Puglia’s most outstanding masserias and fascinating historic centers. The uniqueness of Margherita di Savoia lies in its salt-pans and a wetland of international importance. Those familiar with Castro, “the pearl of Salento”, know that it offers unique seascapes, grottos and rocky cliffs among the best in Puglia with a deep turquoise sea, and a small historic center of great charm.
The Blue Flag has also been confirmed for Melendugno’s beautiful beaches, where, contrary to the will of the local people, the TAP gas pipeline (Trans Adriatic Pipeline) will emerge. Meanwhile, the government has turned a blind eye to the population’s insistent protests that underline the incompatibility of the pipeline with the environmental importance of the area and its valuable tourism assets, and that call at the very least for a different landing place.
Yet another confirmation of the Blue Flag Award to that jewel that is Otranto. The eastern-most town in Italy, with the narrow streets of its enchanting little historic center overlooking the sea, bears the indelible imprint of history; during the Turkish siege in 1480, eight hundred martyrs, whose bones can be seen in glass cases in the Cathedral, chose to be decapitated rather than repudiate their religion. And the Cathedral itself contains a work of art that is absolutely unique: the incredible floor mosaic from the 12th century showing the Tree of Life with stories from the bible and mysterious inscriptions, which has survived the wear and tear of almost nine centuries. This is all surrounded by an extraordinarily beautiful landscape, with an unbelievably transparent sea. It’s no surprise that Otranto has won too many awards to count. In April this Salentinian town was placed fourth among the “Borghi più belli d’Italia” (Most Beautiful villages in Italy) out of the twenty competing. The announcement was made on RAI 3, during the program Kilimangiaro devoted to this special ranking. Otranto has also won the Legambiente “Cinque Vele” (“Five Sails”) for its clean sea various times and the “Bandiera Verde” (“Green Flag”) for its child-friendly beaches.
For those who don’t know it, it’s impossible not to plan a visit. For those who live in Salento and can reach it in a few minutes, it’s unthinkable not to come back, again and again, to walk through its narrow streets or float in its crystal clear water.
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