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There are many ceramics workshops in the immediate vicinity. Despite the similarity in the motifs, the workshops usually have their own unique style. Today—off-season—the neighborhood was very quiet, and some shopkeepers took the time to explain some of the special features to us. It's worth stopping by the shops; you'll probably find something beautiful to take home.

Excellent workmanship and a pleasant walk through the history of ceramics. I recommend it to those who like ceramic objects and those who want to see something different and unique.

In the heart of Grottaglie there is an entire neighborhood of expert ceramists. There are laboratories and cooking ovens that have been carved into the rock. Grottaglie is the only Apulian ceramic center and the artisan activity is protected by the D.O.C. brand.

The spectacular ceramic creations of Grottaglie artisans.

Disused quarry between Faggiano and the hamlet of San Crispieri, where calcarenite was extracted, a sedimentary rock composed of calcite granules very common in the Taranto area and Salento. You walk immersed in a suggestive and disturbing panorama, among the abandoned buildings of the quarry.

Roccaforzata is the smallest municipality in the province of Taranto by resident population. It stands on a hill, the highest in the Serra di Sant'Elia, at an altitude of 145 metres. It has medieval origins and was inhabited by Albanian followers of Scanderbeg in the fifteenth century. Its name derives from the rock position that made it impregnable, and from the small Monte della Croce Park, just outside the town, you can enjoy the panorama towards the Gulf of Taranto.

The castle of San Giorgio Ionico is a recently built building commissioned by the D'Ayala-Valva counts in the 20th century and built on a hill overlooking the town. It is not a real medieval castle, but a stately residence with towers and battlements, still owned by the D'Ayala-Valva family. The castle cannot be visited and is surrounded by a park with secular trees and a chapel dedicated to the Madonna della Croce.

The castle of Carosino is an ancient ducal palace dating back to the 1400s built by the Simonetta family and then modified by the D'Ayala Valva counts in 1800. It has an imposing façade and is a national monument. It is located in the main square of the small Taranto town and today hosts cultural events.