Fasano (Brindisi) and the Zoosafari
Fasano (Brindisi) and the Zoosafari
Fasano, known as the "City of Oil", is located at the centre of a triangle whose verticles are represented by the city of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto. The city marks the border that divides Salento and the territory of Bari. Apparently, the toponym "Fasano" comes from "Faso", which was the name given to the big white wild doves in the past. These doves, which are represented on the town's coat of arms, would drink from the so-called "fogge", which were open wells where watersources from different hills would converge.
Il torrione delle Fogge
Apparently, in the past, Fasano was surrounded by a defensive wall with eleven towers, of which only one of them is still there, the Fogge tower, guarding the eastern gate of the city, and facing the Fogge Valley (a valley that used to be a lake which represented a big water reserve for a long time). It was precisely in this valley that the decisive battle between invading Turks and the people of Fasano took place, ending in a victory for the latter. The small tower is currently used by a Fasanese blacksmith who works iron using traditional methods.
Il Dolmen di Montalbano
Dating back to the Early Bronze Age, the Dolmen of Montalbano still mantains its sturdy structure and it represents one of the earliest funerary monuments. Also known as the "Table of the Paladins," it is easily accessible via the SS16 road, heading towards the sea along the Fasano-Ostuni route, in the "Occhio Piccolo" area.
Another typical structure of this area is the "masseria", which is the result of a geo-economic organization tied to the large estates of the past. Historically, these were large farms inhabited by their landowners, too. Built over rural settlements, they were gradually fortified and became autonomous centers. The countryside around Fasano was rich in terms of ancient "masserie", and each one of them is unique in its own way. Until a few decades ago, many of these "masserie" were still inhabited, but today many of them are being restored and converted into B&Bs, restaurants, and luxurious 5-star hotels.
For your fun and free time, this area offers attractions such as the "Zoo Safari Fasanolandia", the second-largest wildlife park in Europe and the largest in Italy, with over 200 different species of animals belonging to all continents. Other must-visit places are The Torre Canne's Thermal Baths, one of the most well-equipped thermal complex, which has been known for over a century for its therapeutic properties.
