Ginosa is an Apulian town in the province of Taranto, the last city of the region which borders with Basilicata, located on the first ring of the Murgia of Taranto, in a varied territory that goes from the Murgia, to the banks of the Ionian Sea and partially to a part of the Mountain Community of theTaranto Murgia area.
Inhabited since the Paleoic era, as evidenced by the discovery of findings belonging to theHomo Sapiens, it has been later on settled by the Messapi and finally it was submitted to the influence of two civilizations; the Greek colonies of the nearby Taranto and Metaponto and the Roman brought by the legions.
In the past it was strongly devoted to agriculture, but since the second half of the eighties Ginosa has experienced a major industrial development through the establishment on its territory of a certain number of important companies. Nevertheless, the leading sector of the local economy is tourism: Marina di Ginosa, a hamlet of the town, only 25 km away from the city, it’s one of the most popular seaside resorts of the Ionian Tarantino area;, for the tenth time in 2008 it has been awarded by the FEE with a Blue Flag for the quality of its waters.
What to see
The most important monument of Ginosa is the Norman Castle, built in 1080 thanks to the work of Robert Guiscard, in order to function as a defense against the invasions of the Saracens. Originally equipped with three crenellated towers and a drawbridge, after various alterations the Castle of Ginosa today looks like a large building that dominates, with its height dominates, the entire village.
Of particular beauty is the sixteenth-century Chiesa Matrice (Mother Church), built in 1554 and dedicated to San Martin of Tours.
From the naturalistic point of view, particularly striking are the numerous ravines which stress within the municipal boundary: Valle del Archiprete, the Oscurusciuto, Canale San Giuseppe,Torrente Lagnone Tondo, Canale di Palombaro, Torrente Gravinella, Canal Cecera, Selva Venusio, the Difesella, Gravina Grande, Passo di Giacobbe, Gravinella di Cavese e Canale San Pellegrino, Fosso dell'Alloro and Gravinella del Cacciatore.
But not only. Ginosa, and in particular the village of Ginosa Marina, is particularly appreciated for its coast, characterized by a grove of shrubs of the Mediterranean that insist on several miles of sandy coastline. From the Murgia to the sea, passing by Lake Salinella, a coastal lake placed right on the border with Lucania and staging place of many migratory species.
Events
• 12/13 June - Patron Feast of Sant’Antonio of Padova.