Photographic identikit of Salento

The folklore and traditions of Salento are among the most lively and original of southern Italy, thanks to which the territory appears even more fascinating and hospitable. Starting from the Salento dialect , which stands out from the rest of Puglia, it is classified as extreme southern and is very similar to Sicilian but definitely unique in some expressions.

The popular culture of Salento is characterized by the particular dance of the Taranta or Pizzica which has its origins in the fourteenth century and, today, has become famous all over the world; the veneration of the patron saint of the town or city that hosts it, celebrating them with festivals and large parties accompanied by fireworks and spectacular lights of which the Salento are the first masters in the world. Another deeply felt tradition, during the Christmas period, is the setting up of nativity scenes , leaving room for the imagination of the artisans who make the papier-mâché or ceramic figurines.