Let’s make our way to Puglia on the Murge plateau, in the province of Taranto, to discover a rather unusual destination, Grottaglie. A city that is famous for its canyons and ravines (or ‘grottaglie’ in fact), valleys and caves, but above all for its traditional ceramics and – why not – for its modern street art. If you take a tour of the ancient ceramics district close to the fortress, you will encounter many shops with artefacts that still follow the craftsmanship that has been handed down from generation to generation. We are thinking of the ‘white wares of Grottaglie’, like the tureens with lion’s feet, wedding cups decorated with doves, anthropomorphic bottles and zoomorphic flasks. The tradition is also handed down in the colors, with the classic two-tone azure blue and yellow-orange (or brown) and the unmistakable symbol of the dominating rooster. And what you don’t find in the small shops you can go and discover at the Ceramics Museum in the castle, which contains over 400 pieces produced from the 18th to the 20th century, with objects of every type and possible use, from tables and ornaments to religious inspiration. Even after leaving the museum, there is no end to the surprises. You will be captivated once again as you walk through the streets, this time by the contrast between tradition and innovation as you discover the colored graffiti that has redrawn the face of the city. Some are vivid, other discolored over time, but the work has been a part of the city since Grottaglie became, in the space of a few years, an important center for street art with the FAME Festival, which in just a few editions has already become an event of global importance. Some of the most famous international street-artists with their spray cans have made entire buildings, walls, shutters, doors and gates flourish once again: one more reason to visit!
