In the heart of Apulia's Salento region, a cluster of nine charming villages preserves an ancient Greek dialect, defying the centuries that have passed since the departure of the Ancient Greeks from Italy.
While Italy is primarily associated with the dominance of the Romans, who controlled extensive regions of Europe, including Britain, a unique cultural enclave in Apulia offers glimpses of Greek influence.
Nestled in the heel of the Italian Peninsula, six picturesque villages—Calimera (meaning "good morning" in Greek when spelled with a K), Corigliano d'Otranto, Martano, Martignano, Sternatia, and Zollino—uphold Greek customs and dialects handed down through generations. These communities cherish the fading Griko language, a Neo-Greek dialect that persists over the regional language derived from ancient Latin.
The origins of Griko can be traced back to the Greeks and Byzantines who migrated following the Norman invasion, bringing with them their Greek Orthodox practices and enriching the existing dialect with Grecisms. The elders in these small Apulian villages act as the custodians of historical knowledge, favouring Griko despite the encroachment of the more prevalent Apulian dialect and the Italian language, which younger generations have embraced through education.
As Griko speakers dwindled, the villages formed a union in the 1990s called Grecia Salentina (Salentine Greece), encompassing nearby towns such as Castrignano de' Greci, Melpignano, and Soleto. The union aims to preserve Griko's knowledge. Despite losing the practice of speaking Griko centuries ago, three more villages—Carpignano Salentino, Cutrofiano, and Sogliano Cavour—later joined the initiative.
Exploring Grecia Salentina offers visitors a unique blend of Roman, Greek, and Norman architecture, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of this region within Apulia.
