Galatina

The following is an article about Galatina: Discovering Galatina: A Little Italian Town With a Lot of Tradition

Galatina offers an ideal base for sightseeing and exploring Southern Puglia. The town is home to some famous churches, including the Basilica di Santa Caterina, renowned for its beautiful fourteenth-century frescoes that cover its interior, and the Baroque San Pietro.

A small distance from the town square you will also find the little church of San Paolo. There is a legend which says that water from its well has the power to heal those who have been bitten by the tarantula. From this legend comes the annual Festival of the Tarantula, a tradition where would-be bite victims make their way to the well to be healed, whilst dancing to the pizzica (music that is typical of the area).

The festival is called "La Notte della Taranta" and traditionally takes place on San Paolo's feast days (28th and 29th June). Festivities usually start early and finish late in Galatina, where there is music and dancing, as well as a huge fair of rides and market stalls.

As well as the beautiful historical buildings within Galatina, many of which date back to the 16th century, you can also find a wealth of restaurants, bars and shops. During the day, your time can be spent drifting between cafe's, bakeries and gelato ice cream shops, whilst in the evening the town centre comes alive with people eating at fantastic restaurants (see Pepe Nero below), admiring the flood-lit architecture and frequenting the cosy, atmospheric bars listening to live concerts in the town square, or visiting some of the many shops.