the map - Visita Brindisi in un`ora

1
In the center of the square stands
the Fountain of Anchors (Fontana
delle Ancore), which since 1937 has
replaced the Fountain of Frogs (Fontana delle Rane). It’s one of the busiest squares in town. It used to be a
point of contact for landowners and
workers looking for a job or waiting to be paid, today it has become
a round the clock meeting point for
people of all ages. Whether you’re
sitting under a shady tree or Christmas lights always keep an eye on the
wind, passing on the w rong side of
fountain could get you soaking wet!
2
4
PIAZZA CAIROLI
For business or for a siesta
PORTA MESAGNE
Water, wagon and pubs
Porta Mesagne interrupts the town
walls and is one of the oldest entrances
into town. It ideally separates the old
from the new part of the town. It was
built in 1200, and in time it has been
fortified with new architectural elements such as the Bastion located on
the left side and now used for exhibitions. It has always been a passage for
pedestrians, and risked being knocked
down at the beginning of ‘900. Another smaller arch was created on the
right side of the entrance. In the centuries it has had a very important social
function: from supplying water (from
the ancient tanks) to entertainment and
night life… one of the first pubs that
opened in Brindisi was located in there.
VIA PALESTRO
The imperfect combination
Keep your eyes on the road. In front
of our eyes you’ll see large black geometrical stones cleverly laid next to
each other. Lava basalt is typical of
many historical centers of southern
Italy, today it’s become part of an imperfect combination with tarmac, that
is slowly covering the stones. Past and
present contaminating each other…
who’ll have the upper hand? Keep your
eyes open as you walk on.
3
VIA CARMINE
5
VIA DELLA LIBERTA’
Sounds from hell
It’s weird to think that the road, named
in honor of freedom, was once the
path that led to the blood-curdling
prison in the castle. Travelers were
terrified by the noises of chains and
cries that came from behind the castle walls. Maybe that’s why the tower
at the beginning of the road is called
Inferno? In place of the two schools on
the right, there was piazza Castello,
one of the most attended in town. A
place that is really difficult to remove
from memories of aged citizens.
VIA DISCESA
DOROTEA
The noblewoman
Walking along via Sant’Aloy towards
St. Paul’s Church (Chiesa di San Paolo)
it’s really worth stopping in via discesa
Dorotea. Just a few meters down the
street you’ll find a quiet terrace, that
offers a romantic view on the Sciabbiche (originally a fishermans district
and now a movida location) and the
other side of the port. It’s not in a posh
location, but that can be put down to
it’s humble origins, were popular memory recalls Dorotea a noblewoman that
used to be a benefactress of the very
poor fishermen that lived in the area.
8
11
CASTELLO SVEVO
Picture of a different town
In front of us is the Land Castle (Castello di Terra) one of Brindisi’s symbols
and bulwark of the strategic location
its port has had in the centuries. As
much as this huge building can be seen
from several different locations it can
only, sometimes, be visited when artistic and cultural events are organized
inside it. Since 1223 (year the castle
was finished) it has played an important role in the city’s expansion; as it
occupies most of the west bay (Seno
di Ponente), it’s not possible to reach
the other side of the bay by land. It has
also designated the outcome of local
sea trade. Until ideas and suggestions
for the future don’t become a reality,
all we can do is pass by and imagine
the great historical and artistic treasures it holds.
7
Honks and history
Know in the Middle Ages as “Rua
Maestra”, it used to be the town’s
main street and now is one of the busiest thoroughfares. It’s not rare to bump
into cars in a traffic jam and drivers
blowing their horns. Among the many
shops (mainly food & wine) you’ll find
traces of history. Like Palazzo Ripa
and the Calvario, at the corner with via
Santa Margherita, that’s a very important worship location during celebrations for the Holy Week.
6
LARGO GUGLIELMO
The labyrinth
Largo Guglielmo da Brindisi is a large
square mostly used as a parking space,
it is also the entrance to a “labyrinth”.
As you enter you’ll find yourself in
front of many tiny and tangled roads.
A piece of the old side of town forgotten by the most but worth visiting.
9
Brindisi has its own version of the famous quarrel between the Montecchi and the Capuleti from Verona and
it involved the ancient dynasties of
the Ripa supporting farmers and the
Cavalerio supporting fishermen. The
huge building behind the decadent
baroque façade in via Carmine, 19 belonged to the Ripa family. A forgotten
building of 2100 sqm and an impressive
garden that’s waiting to be reassessed.
CHIESA
DI SAN PAOLO
Prodigies and traditions
On a flight of steps lies St Paul’s
Church, a gothic building that dates
back to 1322, built on the old area of
the Swabian Mint and of the Curia Regis. Over the centuries this church has
been a point of reference for the town’s
religious culture. Many still recall the
celebrations for Good Friday, when the
parishioners used to follow in procession the statues of Jesus the Redeemer
and Our Lady of Sorrows all along the
streets of the town center. They say
that the Madonna “Macenola” saved
Brindisi from a tremendous earthquake in 1743. And when the statue
was found in an unexpected position
- open armed and with its eyes looking up to the sky - it was considered
a testimony of the received grace. It is
customary for tourists to take a picture
of the slightly leaning façade of the
church… more or less like the tower
of Pisa.
10
PALAZZO RIPA
The forgotten giant
12
CHIESA
DEGLI ANGELI
14
17
LARGO DE CALÒ
The multiethnic spirit
Different historical periods and cultures weave together around the
small fountain of piazza Calò to create Brindisis multi-ethnic face. Large
communities of Slavons, Greeks and
Albanians starting living here from
1100 in typical houses with roofs made
of wood and cane called “a cannizzo”,
just a few steps from St. Michael Archangel’s Church (chiesa di San Michele
Arcangelo) surmonting the whole area
with its colored dome. Who knows
what a noisy area it used to be! The
best part of it is that the people that
live here now are always complaining
about the loud music.
VIA SAN BENEDETTO
18
The other patron
Sacredness in the street
At the corner of via Santa Barbara and
via San Benedetto, look up. You’ll see a
votive shrine, one of the many expressions of popular religiosity that can
still be found in the streets, what used
to be a benchmark for a quick prayer
of people passing-by is now left to
the older people that live nearby. Just
a few steps later, looking to the right,
we’ll see the medieval church of San
Benedetto. The area was urbanized
only in the late ‘800, and now houses
breweries, pubs and b&b.
19
On the Templar’s traces
15
PALAZZO
NERVEGNA
Everyday, behind these doors, important decision are made for the
administration of the city. In the last
few years many new activities have began inside these cozy rooms, cultural
events, exhibitions, meetings and university lessons above all. Coffee break
or an aperitif while sitting at a table
outside in the sun is a must.
In the shade
of the magnolias
The De Torres Fountain with it’s splashing water is a meeting point for a lot of
people at all times. In the shade of the
scented magnolias of piazza Vittoria
you can see groups of children playing
and the elderly sitting on benches. The
area hosts free concerts, small arts and
craft and antiques markets. Just a few
steps away you’ll find piazza Mercato
seat of the fruit and vegetable market
of old part of town.
PIAZZA VITTORIO
EMANUELE
The ports sundial
Carparo and corti
22
VIA CONSERVA
In the shopping centre
Not far from the train station you’ll
find this small and cosy pedestrian
area of via Conserva. Here you can relax with an aperitif or take a look at
the nice shops or rest on the benches
by the fountain looking at the passing
people.
Assonautica
piazza
Santa
eo
Teresa
de L
e
l
a
b
nni
via A
via Sant’
Aloy
largo
San Paolo
d
piazza Cairoli
Palazzo Virgilio Hotel
our
via C. Cav
Wi-Fi
Camera di Commercio
via Saponea
Hotel Barsotti
Hotel Colonna
Titi Shipping
so
cor
pe
ep
s
Giu
ta
via Annunzia
k
ma
Ro
o
s
cor
piazza
Matteotti
largo
Anime
l
via Lata
ldi
ba
i
r
Ga
fflitto
vico d’A
lle
via Mattone
a
via Co nserv
Stazione
Centrale
lio
sig
n
Co
F.
via
Hotel Orientale
rto I
corso Umbe
erto I
corso Umb
via Casimiro
via Belvedere
i
ist
att
B
re
sa
e
C
v ia
piazza
Vittorio
Emanuele
a
gill
Fla
de’
via
piazza
Vittoria
via S. Nicolicch
io
via Guerrieri
piazza
Mercato
M usce
tto l a
Taxi
via Santi
Maritime station
j
disi
Brin
ini
via G. Mazz
e
via F
erra
nte F
ornar
i
da
nzo
via San Lor e
mbre
via XX Sette
vico
Sem
inario
f
Approdo Yachts Service
via Colonne
piazza
Duomo
via d
e
via
San
t’Ipp
o lito
via Carmine
via Palestro
arlo V
via Bastioni C
mbo
via Cristoforo Colo
Another 5 minutes in town
largo
De Calò
h
g
via Duomo
Visit Brindisi in an hour
cuvio
via M. Pa
via Lauro
via Armengol
edetto
v ia San Ben
via de’ Caracciolo
Grande Albergo Internazionale
via G. Tarantini
via D. del Balzo
i
via
del
Mar
e
vico Bianchi
largo
Guglielmo
Legend
Extra points
ita
er
gh
ar
M
viale della Libertà
via d
ei M
ille
via P. Santab arbara
Points of interest
a
gin
Re
le
via
piazzale
Lenio Flacco
via Castello
Car park
PIAZZA VITTORIA
Approdo delle Indie
via P
rov.
San
Vito
Airport shuttle
21
VICO SEMINARIO
3 minutes walking
Train station
Le vasche
There’s only a very few visitors that
aren’t dazzled by the sight of this large
road that joins the main dock of the
Marina to the train station. Even if it
was built on an old gutter (“la Mena”)
where all the waste and rainwater used
to flow, in the 18th century it was transformed into a shopping promenade. In
the years the “corso” has hosted famous ice-cream parlors, bars and patisseries. Today there are boutiques, gift
and fancy goods shops to enrich long
walks (a.k.a vasche, literally lengths but
refered to walking up and down the
corso) of people of all ages.
Towards the sea
At the corner of via Duomo and vico
Seminario, the heraldic symbol of the
Mezzacapo family stands out on the
carparo (a calcareous rock) walls to
remind us the story of the austere impressive edifice built in the 18th century, and is today seat of the Archbishop
and its library. Walking along this road
you can admire “le corti” (typical open
spaces annexed to buildings) of the
small ground floor houses.
Info point
CORSO GARIBALDI
Right in front of the harbor lies piazza
Vittorio Emanuele, a point of reference and reception for passing tourists.
An English style lawn encloses the
Dolphin’s Fountain and Virgil’s monument, built to commemorate 2000
years of his death in Brindisi. Only the
keenest observers notice the sundial
on the façade of the coast guard’s building saluting incoming and outgoing
tourists with an effigy.
Coffee in the sun
16
20
VIA FILOMENO
CONSIGLIO
Salita di Ripalta, the ending part of
via Casimiro we’ll find ourselves in
via Filomeno Consiglio named after a
painstaking mayor of Brindisi at the
end of 1800. A good period for the
town, enough to give his name to part
of the “Rua Maestra”. At the bottom
of the steps next to the fountain you’ll
find the impressive façades of Palazzo
Guerrieri and Crudomonte.
SAN GIOVANNI
AL SEPOLCRO
Leaving the Angel’s Church behind
with via Armengol on our left, we’ll
reach via Lauro. The street named after
the laurel tree, a typical local plant, livens up at night when pubs and restaurants open to customers. But we reach
the real attraction, St. John’s Temple,
by taking the narrow passage that cuts
the street in two. The area, especially
during the summer, hosts concerts and
cultural events and represents an important historical and architectural evidence. Looking at the entrance we can
see the iconography of the Templars
leaving Brindisi for their long journey
to reach the Holy Land. Behind the
Temple another gem: an urban garden
with a small citrus orchard.
The concert
From via de’ Muscettola head towards
via San Nicolicchio and taking a small
passage we’ll find ourselves in a small
square. In front of us there is a protection railing to limit some roman findings. Via Casimiro is one of Brindisi’s
oldest roads and is now seat of public
offices and schools. Open your ears
and listen carefully, no it’s not cableradio! From morning to the afternoon
you can listen to violins and pianos
playing or operas being played by students of the musical school.
Brindisi has two patrons, St. Theodore of Amasea and St. Lawrence
of Brindisi, to whom are entitled the
school and the road in front of us. The
saint, doctor of the church, prophet
and diplomat, wanted the church to be
built where he was born. Take time to
admire the wooden doors and the baroque façade. Inside you’ll find many
artistic treasures. And help us understand why in the list of patron saints
St. Lawrence is always considered the
other patron!
13
VIA CASIMIRO
via Lata
Brindisi
visit
in an hour
A project realized by
Partners
madEra Historical and artistic itinerary for real travelers
How to use the map
“Brindisi in an hour – In the heart of Brindisi” is a
map created to help visitors discover Brindisi through
an original historical and artistic itinerary.
media e comunicazione
Bibliographic sources
To carry out this project we have
consulted texts of the Archivio di
Stato and Biblioteca Provinciale di
Brindisi
Città di Brindisi
Assessorato al Marketing Territoriale
Walk along the route the map suggests, in an hour
you can get to know local history and traditions.
How do the people of Brindisi live? What do they
eat? Which are the town’s most frequented areas?
And on the other hand which are less known but
worth visiting at least once?
Illustrations:
Azzurra Cecchini
a
gin
Re
le
via
Assonautica
piazza
Santa
o
Teresa
e Le
ale d
nnib
via A
vico Bianchi
largo
Guglielmo
San
Vito
via Castello
largo
San Paolo
d
via Casimiro
our
via C. Cav
Hotel Barsotti
k
ma
Ro
so
cor
largo
Anime
Strolling through time
Camera di Commercio
via Saponea
Hotel Colonna
Finished printing
April 2013
fflitto
vico d’A
lle
via Mattone
a
via Co nserv
piazza Cairoli
Palazzo Virgilio Hotel
a
via Annunziat
Emergency numbers
Police 113
Ambulance emergency 118
Fire dept. 115
Guida alle avanguardie urbane
via Belvedere
disi
Brin
Stazione
Centrale
so
cor
i
ald
rib
Ga
pe
sep
Giu
Hotel Orientale
oI
corso Umbert
I
Titi Shipping
piazza
Vittoria
ti
ttis
Ba
re
sa
Ce
v ia
ilovebrindisi.it
io
igl
ns
Co
F.
via
piazza
Matteotti
Taxi
Taxi services is available
from 6 am to midnight.
An average fare costs about 20 euro
Phone +39 0831 597901
Have fun following this itinerary that tells you with
about local cultural in an informal manner. Join the
community share pictures and videos of your visit to
the heart of Brindisi on www.visitabrindisiora.it/en.
piazza
Vittorio
Emanuele
gilla
Fla
de’
via
piazza
Mercato
via S. Nicolicch
io
via Guerrieri
j
M usce
tto l a
via Palestro
da
nzo
via San Lor e
via F
erra
nte F
ornar
i
via d
e
via Santi
bo
via Cristoforo Colom
oV
via Bastioni Carl
via G. Mazzini
f
e
Approdo Yachts Service
via Colonne
vico
Sem
inario
via Duomo
largo
De Calò
via
San
t’Ipp
o lito
via Carmine
bre
via XX Settem
cuvio
via M. Pa
via Lauro
via Armengol
edetto
v ia San Ben
via de’ Caracciolo
via D. del Balzo
h
g
via G. Tarantini
via P. Santab arbara
i
Grande Albergo Internazionale
piazza
Duomo
Public transport
Tickets price vary
from 0.90 cent to 1.50 euro
To enter the heart of Brindisi follow routes from 1 to
22. And if you’d like to stay for more than an hour
and find out more of Brindisi’s culture and history,
follow the “+ points”. Just fold down the top part
of the map to find out more about the most famous
monuments, the museums and the ancient churches.
l
via Lata
via
del
Mare
via Sant’
Aloy
to
corso Umber
ita
er
gh
ar
M
viale della Libertà
via d
ei M
ille
Suggestions for tourists
For any kind of info you can contact
Tourist information bureau
Lungomare Regina Margherita, 44
Phone +39 0831 523072
Between sacred and profane, legends and mottos,
rites and famous people, with great satisfaction we’ll
reveal the town’s unknown facts.
On the web
www.visitabrindisiora.it/en
www.maderamedia.com
www.ilovebrindisi.it
Approdo delle Indie
piazzale
Lenio Flacco
Tourist
information
Museums and exhibitions
via Lata
Dates to remember
On history’s traces
XVI b.C. A village with a few huts in between the port’s natural
bays. This is what Brindisi used to be.
1775 Architect Pigonati starts draining the inside port and
nearby areas.
267 b.C. The Romans conquered Brindisi. Up to the end of the
Empire it becomes an important commercial knot.
1797 King Ferdinand IV visits Brindisi after he had lavished for
the end of the port drainage and the building of corso
Garibaldi.
19 b.C. Publio Virgilio Marone, poet, dies in his house near the
Roman columns.
1864 The railway station revamps local economy: tourism and
commerce rise.
476 a.D. With the fall of the roman empire Brindisi loses it strategic role. For centuries different civilizations have occupied the territory (Goths, Longobards, Saracines and
Byzantines).
1870 The Indian Mail Route decides to insert Brindisi in it’s
course to Bomabay. Taking advange of the opening of
the Suez Canal, that took place the year before.
1089 The building of the Cathedral starts and with it Brindisi’s
economic recovery, that has now become a focal point
for ships coming or going to the Holy Land for the Crusades.
1927 During the fascist period Brindisi gains the duce’s attention, who builds several monuments and sets up the navy
command.
1943 Vittorio Emanuele II and the royal family are refugees in
Brindisi. For four months Brindisi becomes capital of Italy.
1250 A very intense period for Brindisi that sees the number of
it’s inhabitants, churches, and other important defensive
constructions, such as castles, walls and gateways grow.
1963 A new era for the local economic scene starts when
Montecatini chemical plant opens on the industrial estate by the sea.
1449 The mouth of the port is obstructed turning Brindisi into
an unhealthy, swamped and malarial area, it stays that
way for several centuries.
1991 For several months Brindisi houses thousands of Albanians fleeing from the regime. The refugees arrived in
march on little fortune boats.
1656 An outbreak of plague that is devastating all the south of
Italy reaches Brindisi.
Continue your tour
Other historical places of interest
a
LE SCIABBICHE
It’s a historical and picturesque neighborhood named after a kind of fishing
net used on the “skifarieddi” (a typical
small boat made of wood) that used
to be repaired on the wharves. Up to
the thirties the area used to be a lot
bigger, but the fascist architecture imposed the demolition of many houses
and roads in order to build Piazza
Santa Teresa and the fountain below. In
the downsized area that has reduced
it’s fishing activity you can now find
restaurants and nightclubs that outline
the wonderful view.
b
c
It originally dates back to 1089 when it
used to be entitled to St. Mary Veterana. The way it looks today is the result
of various architectural rehashes that,
in time have added a cloister on the left
side (XVII cent.) and a cloister inside
(XII cent.). The neighborhood was
named after the church, and that gives
an idea of the importance it has had for
a very long time (XVI cent.) as shown
by the documents found in the parish.
d
PIAZZA SANTA
TERESA
The square is named after the baroque
church, deconsecrated a long time ago,
is now seat of the “Tarantini” Diocesan
Museum. Next to the church rises the
Carmelites Convent now seat of the
Public Records office. The Monument
to fallen soldiers overlooks the square,
and was made by Edgardo Simone (an
artist from Brindisi) and positioned in
1940.
ST. BENEDICT’S
CHURCH
THE FORMER
CONVENT OF THE
PIOUS SCHOOLS
As reported on the coat of arms at the
entrance of via Tarantini, they started
working on the building in 1664 at
the behest of Archbishop de Estrada.
St. Micheal’s Church and the annex
dorm soon become very important
cultural centers. The building has three
entrances and a cloister. The church
now hosts the “Map” museum for exhibitions of contemporary artists; the
cloister is often seat of cultural and
musical events.
Museo Archeologico Provinciale F. Ribezzo
(Provincial Archaeological Museum)
piazza Duomo
Map - Museo Mediterraneo dell’Arte Presente
(Museum of Present Art)
ex Chiesa S. Michele delle Scuole Pie, via Tarantini 37
Open Mon – Sat 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
Tue 3.30 pm – 6.30 pm
Opening hours n/a
Chiostro dell’Archivio di Stato
(Cloister of the Public Records Office)
piazza Santa Teresa
Museo Diocesano Tarantini
(Diocesan Museum)
piazza Duomo
Open Mon – Sat 7.45 am – 1.35 pm
Tue & Thur 7.45 am – 5.20 pm
Open Mon – Fri 9 am – 1 pm
Palazzo Granafei Nervegna
via Duomo, 20
Museo Santa Teresa degli Scalzi
(St Teresa of the discalced Museum)
piazza Santa Teresa
Open Mon – Sat 9 am – 6 pm
Sun 9 am – 3.30 pm
Opening hours n/a
Parco Archeologico di San Pietro degli Schiavoni
(Archeological site)
Nuovo Teatro Verdi, via Santi
Bastione di Porta Mesagne
via C. Colombo
Open Mon – Sun 10.30 am – 1.30 pm, 4.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Open Mon – Fri 8.30 am – 1.30 pm
Bastione San Giacomo
via N. Sauro
Ex Convento Scuole Pie
(Former Convent of the Pious schools)
via Tarantini, 39
Open Tue – Sun 9 am – 12 am, 5.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Open Mon – Fri 10 am – 12 am, 4 pm – 7 pm
Sat 10 am – 12 am
e
THE NEW
VERDI THEATRE
The “suspended” theatre designed by
architect Nespegna in the ‘70 on the
archeological area of San Pietro degli Schiavoni. The town already had
a theatre on corso Umberto I, built at
the beginning of the 20th century and
wrongfully demolished in 1960. The
theatre offers a quality programme,
nearly 1000 seats and a large foyer
from where you can admire, through a
glass floor, the underlying archeological site. The whole archeological area
can be visited during the day, the entrance is located outside the theatre.
f
g
The imposing façade makes piazza
Duomo one of the town’s most suggestive corners. Inside an ancient mosaic
and several paintings embellish the
structure. Next to the bell tower arc,
restructered after the bombings of the
II World War, the museum has open
space where many teenagers gather
(although not visit the museum’s
bronzes) to exercise breakdance on the
white and smooth paving.
h
PALAZZO GRANAFEI
NERVEGNA
The historic building dating from the
mid-16th century hosts on it’s highest
floors the mayor’s representative offices. After being sold to the Nervegna family in the second half of the
19th century, it has been seat in the
past century of the Civil Court and
of the Court of Assizes. The complex
preserves the original top mounting
of the Roman column, and hosts a variety of exhibitions of contemporary,
and non, art.
THE CATHEDRAL
BASILICA
THE ROMAN
COLUMNS
They are the major evidence of the importance of Brindisi during the Roman
period. They are usually described as
symbol of the end of the Appian Way,
but were actually built on a sacred hill
as to wish good luck to all travelers
leaving this port to reach distant destinations. “There are three safe ports in
the world: June, July and Brindisi…”
and Virgil, who died in a house near
the columns, looked at these same waters (at that time a lot more clear).
i
THE PORT
The natural conformation in a deer’s
head shape is due to the erosion in the
centuries of the Cillarese and Palmarini
torrents. Mankind has transformed
this natural basin into a safe and reliable port. The first settlements in the
area were messapian, but it was during the Roman Empire that Brindisi’s
port became strategic for commercial
purposes. During the I World War it
also became call for allied steamers.
In 1991 it hosted thousands of Albanian immigrants. It is now divided in
different areas (military, commercial,
touristic and industrial), and hosts ten
multifunctional docks.
j
PIAZZA MERCATO
The fruit and vegetable market once
used to be located between piazza
Vittoria and the Chiesa delle Anime
(Soul’s Church). The council decided
to change the market’s location to a
more appropriate and serviced area, as
Brindisi had gained an important commercial and touristic role at the end of
the 19th century. In 1911 the new business area was opened.
k
PIAZZA ANIME
The church located at the end of the
square is named after St. Sebastian,
and was built by the confraternity of
the “Anime del Purgatorio” (Purgatory Souls) in 1670. The square outside
the church is of the beginning of the
20th century, and it hosts the “focara”,
a bonfire rite in honor of St Antonio
Abate (st. Anthony Abbot). Every year
on the 17th of January the religious rite
takes place with a large bonfire and
around it animal owners that come
for they animals to be blessed (today
it’s mostly pets but in ancient times it
used be working animals).
l
SANTA LUCIA
Built in one of the oldest streets of
Brindisi, via Lata, the church has always had a very important role for the
whole community. Entitled to the Holy
Trinity, but mostly known as Santa Lucia, the religious building was built on
ancient cript with three navas of the
13th century, it treasures wonderful
frescos of the 14th century and paintings of the 18th.
Brindisi facts
Anthropological tips
At first glance when you arrive in Brindisi, either by plane or
ship, it looks like an industrial town. This is just it’s moder aspect. For centuries the local economy was based on agriculture,
fishing and commerce. Layers of history lying under our feet
support this, and anytime a road is dug up many different archeological finds are brought back to light.
The ancient name of Brindisi is Brunda “deer head”. And a deer
is imprinted on the town’s coat of arms, to recall the inside port’s
peculiar shape where one bay faces west and the other east embracing the heart of the town.
Strolling through the town at some times of the day you can see
that streets are totally deserted. A well informed visitor knows
that it’s not a far-west syndrome. Here like in many other locations of southern Italy everyone respects the “controra”, the
afternoon siesta time that goes from 2.30 pm to 4 pm. In the
summer, when afternoons are really hot, most of the people go
to local beaches and stay there till evening. Only when the sun
starts setting and the weather gets cooler you see people in town
again.
Which typical food can’t be missed when travelling through
Brindisi? Fave (a puree of dried broad beans) and chicory, orecchiette (typical hand made pasta) with tomato sauce, ricci (sea
urchins), riso cozze e patate (rice, mussels and potatoes bake),
puccia (bread with small black olives mixed into the dough), fritta (fried bread dough filled with mozzarella and tomato), pettole
(fried liquid bread dough) and puddica (focaccia, bread dough
with a filling of onions, black olives and capers).
Shops are open from 9 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm. Restaurants are
open from 12 am to 2 pm for dinner and from 8 pm to 11 pm for supper.
Brindisi has many sport supporters, it has been nominated European City of Sport for 2014. Basketball and soccer are widely
practiced. During the sport season when teams play at home it’s
very usual to hear people singing “nui simu Brindisini…” (Noi
siamo brindisini means we are from Brindisi) one of the supporters most used songs.
Music has always been part of Brindisi’s life. Some popular
songs like “Mannaggia lu rimu” or “Abbasciu alla marina” are
passed, in the years, from father to son. On the other hand the
independent rock and songwriting scene are very active: visiting
bars and pubs you’ll very likely encounter live gigs.
Don’t hesitate to ask passers for info: even if it’s difficult to find
locals that speak other languages, they are always very helpful
and willing to give any kind of information, gesticulating!
As you stroll through Brindisi you could listen to expressions
such as: “Na fatia na…”, a typical expression a worker uses when
encounting a loafer; “Addò rrivu, chiantu lu zzippu”, as to say
as much as I can do but when there’s nothing more I can do I’ll
have to stop; “Sputa ca mbisca” to say that the same thing has
just happened.
In Brindisi, aperitif time strikes twice a day. In the morning at
around 11’o clock, the bars in town fill up with people looking
for a quick snack, usually a “rustico” (puff pastry with béchamel,
mozzarella and tomato) or a piece of focaccia with a non-alcoholic drink. In the evening pubs and bars offer special aperitifs
such as fries, olives, panzerotti, taralli, nuts, pasta, savoury pies,
crudités and cheese.
“Quistu è vino ti malvasia. Fazzu nu brindisi a tutta sta compagnia”: this is one of the typical rhymes used by locals to toast
friends and family. Negroamaro, malvasia, salice salentino, susumaniello and ottavianello are typical local vines. Brindisi’s
wine production has become more appreciated, in Italy and
abroad. It couldn’t be otherwise for a city who has a name that
invites you to toast!