Day trip to Grottaglie
Traditional Trulli houses alongside our drive
Travel Guide to Grottaglie, Puglia
Nestled in the heart of Puglia, Grottaglie is a charming town renowned for its rich ceramic tradition, stunning medieval architecture, and vibrant local culture. It’s the perfect destination for a day trip, offering a blend of history, artistry, and picturesque landscapes. We have visited grottaglie a couple of times, both tiems with the idea of purchasing ceramics to take back home with us. We discovered the ceramics store Nicola Fasano around eight years ago, when we stayed in Masseria Palombara and they had plates from there. The shipment from the store is also very reliable so this time we purchased a huge urn and a beautiful unique lamp along with some coffee cups and statement plates. Grottaglie is a great place for a day trip, to look around at all the handmade ceramics and have lunch. There was also an antique fair & food market when we where there and found some lovely small antiques to take home with us.
Highlights of Grottaglie:
Ceramic Shopping: Grottaglie is famous for its ceramics, and one of the best places to experience this craft is at Nicola Fasano Ceramics. Here, you can browse a wide selection of handmade pottery, from traditional pieces to contemporary designs. The best part? You can purchase these beautiful items and have them shipped directly to your home country, allowing you to take a piece of Grottaglie’s artistry with you.
Historic Sites: Stroll through the old town’s narrow streets and visit the Castello Episcopio, a medieval fortress that offers a glimpse into the town’s past. Don’t miss the Matera Cave District, where ancient cave dwellings and rock churches provide a striking contrast to the modern town above.
Ceramic Quarter: The Quartiere delle Ceramiche is a vibrant neighborhood where artisans continue to create and sell their wares. It’s a wonderful place to explore and discover unique ceramic pieces, some of which have been crafted by local families for generations.
Nearby Towns:
Grottaglie is conveniently located near several other beautiful towns in Puglia that are worth exploring:
Taranto (25 km): A historic coastal city with ancient ruins, museums, and a picturesque old town. We stayed in Relais Histo a couple of times that is a lovely spa masseria.
Matera (70 km): Famous for its ancient cave dwellings and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sassi di Matera. Matera is a lovely interesting place to stay, have traveled here two times. The hotels in Matera are amazing.
Alberobello (40 km): Known for its iconic trulli houses, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Ostuni (50 km): The "White City" perched on a hill, offering stunning views and a maze of whitewashed streets.
Conclusion:
Grottaglie is the perfect place to experience Puglia's artistic heritage and charm. Whether you're in town for the ceramics, history, or simply to soak in the atmosphere, this quaint town promises a memorable day trip. With nearby towns offering even more cultural treasures, Grottaglie makes an excellent base for exploring the region.
Above images: on the left is an image from the antique and food market. We also had lunch at a random small restaurant and it turned out to be one of my favourite octopus dishes of the trip. It was so tasty and deliicous.
