“I always carry my whole childhood with me . Today, this farmhouse brings me back in time”
Beppe di Maria
The company is based in Carovigno. The town is dominated by the magnificent Castle of the Princes of Dentice di Frasso, built in the 14th century. In the close-by district of Serranova stands yet another castle, the summer residence of the same princes. In its chapel a Crucifix is stored which every gets carried in the local procession every 3 of May. it is believed that the crucifix Christ has protected the area from droughts and other calamities over the centuries.
Another site to visit in Carovigno is the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Belvedere, where every year the traditional performance of the flag wavers takes place., The wavers specialize in the beating of the ‘Nzegna; the launch towards the sky of multicoloured flags that are first skillfully swivelled around the body. . If the flag is thrown high and does not fall back on the ground it is taken as a sign of good harvest.
Masseria Pezze d’Arena, the agricultural site of Carvinea is near Torre Guaceto: a marvellous WWF nature reserve, an uncontaminated wetland, a marine area of rare beauty. The reserve hosts a rich variety of plants and animals. Olive trees, eucalyptuses, and other hundreds of years old trees that together with the Mediterranean scrub and the paludal reeds harmoniously interrupt the sandy beaches and the rocky areas by the seashore.The only human intervention here are the white paths for sheep, the dry stone walls and the Aragonese watchtower, which was built as defense against the Saracen’s raids. Torre Guageto is also home to a study centre for the protection of sea turtles. The great biodiversity of the oasis is an Italian pride, so much so that Expo 2015 chose it, together with 14 other protected oases and 2 marine reserves, as an example of abundance and variety of species. Torre Guaceto in collaboration with Slow Food have added value to this land’s biodiversity by starting to produce typical products, such as the olive oil named Oro del Parco (Gold of the Park) and the Fiaschetto di Torre Guaceto, an autochthonous tomato variety that was brought back to life. A fishing community has also been established.
Ostuni, la Citta` Bianca (the White City) is among the renown towns in the area of Carvinea. Its old town area is all painted with pure white lime. A walk through its picturesque little streets is a must for anyone visiting the area. It is here that you can breathe the most authentic Puglia catching glimpses of the most stunning views through the paths of the small city . Ostuni seats on top of three hills at about 10 km from the Adriatic Sea and it overlooks the broad plain of olive trees separating the city from the sea.
And then there is Brindisi the main city of the area . Its name is believed to derive from the messapic word ‘Brunda’, which means ‘Deer’s Head’, referring to the particular shape of its port . A port which has witnessed the passage of different cultures through the centuries. The Messapi people settled in these territories as early as the 8th century. B.C. In 267 B.C. Brindisi became a Roman colony beginning its period of splendour. Brindisi turned into the main commercial and military trade port for the East. The city was connected with Rome through the Via Appia (the Appian Way) first, and the Via Traiana (the Traian way) later. Brindisi has always had a connection with wine. It used to be produced here and then shipped in terracotta containers. Carvinea wants to honour this noble and ancient tradition by producing elegant wines with a great bouquet.