Ceglie Messapica

Itria Valley, land of trulloes par excellence, is a karst depression, coinciding with the bottom of the Murge. Its name derives from the oriental cult of Madonna Odegitria (ie, who shows the way), protector of travelers.It is characterized by a flourishing vegetation where olive trees stand, These are cultivated in masserie lands, small typical local stone fortresses. Coasts are marked by long, sandy beaches, dunes and protected natural reserves. There are several traces of old Messapi civilizations, rock settlements, castles and not-to-be-missed trulloes made with drystone techniques. Ceglie Messapica rises 302 m above sea level on one of the last outposts of the Southern Murgia. Even though the city is located between Alto Salento and the Valle d'Itria and is equally distant from the city of Brindisi and the city of Taranto, it is registered to the province of Brindisi.The local economy, mainly based on the cultivation of olive trees...