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Are you fascinated by myths, legends, and mysterious traditions? Discover Puglia's captivating stories – feverish dances, protective superstitions, mischievous elves, and the resilient spirit of southern Italy. Explore the quirks and rituals that shape Puglian culture and get insider tips on where to experience them firsthand!
Summary
In this episode, we step into the sun-drenched landscapes of Puglia, where ancient myths and traditions are woven into daily life. Host Katy Clarke welcomes back local guide Paolo of Apulia Handmade to uncover the stories that define southern Italy's vibrant culture. From the feverish rhythms of the pizzica dance, rooted in superstitions about spider bites, to legends of witches, mischievous elves, and symbols of luck, discover how these tales enchant visitors while remaining cherished emblems of pride and resilience for locals.
What you'll learn in this episode
- The pizzica dance is famous in Puglia and it's origins stem from the folk belief that a spider's (tarantula's) bite caused a feverish affliction that could only be cured through rhythmic music and dance, tracing the tradition back to Galatina and its colorful ribbons, the role of musicians and Saint Paul in the ritual, and how the practice was revived in the 1980s and transformed into modern festivals like the Notte della Taranta
- The belief in curses and the evil eye leads to Puglians protecting against them. Affascino is the power of compliments to unintentionally curse someone. Historically and sometimes still today, practical rituals were used to detect and cleanse a curse, such as dropping olive oil into water
- Many everyday superstitions are still followed across Puglia. There are unlucky and lucky numbers (avoiding Friday the 17th, and the number 17 itself), along with widely held beliefs like never placing a hat on a bed, steering clear of walking under ladders, black cats crossing your path, and never seating 13 at a table
- There are good luck charms and symbolic objects that are unique to the region, such as Puglia's ceramic Pumo symbol and how it's traditionally displayed, alongside fruit-based charms like figs, lemons, and pomegranates representing abundance and fertility, plus common protective gestures like touching iron (similar to knocking on wood)
- There is folklore that mischievous countryside dwarves (the Laurieddhu) can be blamed for household mischief and hidden treasure, with customs used to appease them (like leaving out food), and how these old beliefs continue to travel with immigrant communities who carry them abroad
Timeline Overview
- 06:35 The origins of pizzica, the hypnotic folk dance said to cure the “bite” of tarantulas through rhythm and movement
- 12:33 Summer festivals and Notte della Taranta – Puglia's biggest celebration of the tradition, where the dance and music come alive in a modern festival setting
- 16:30 Locals once used rituals (and some still do) to detect curses and ward off the evil eye
- 24:54 Symbolic ceramic shapes in Puglia – the meaning behind traditional Puglian pottery designs and the luck or protection they're believed to carry
- 27:35 Folklore about countryside dwarves – the mischievous elf-like spirits of Puglian legend, said to haunt homes and fields with harmless but persistent pranks
About our guest – Paolo Maragliulo
Paolo is originally from Lecce, but now lives in Matera. He has studied “Conservazione dei Beni Culturali,” which is basically art history, history, and restoration; when he started, his area (Puglia and Basilicata) was far from being as popular as it is now.
His dream was to tell everybody about the beauty of his region, and he bet everything on that. Paolo now works as a tour guide for European and overseas companies.
Paolo does food tours, cultural and archaeological tours, hiking and cycling tours, and also works as a trip designer and consultant for individuals and companies. He has also worked for 5 years for a British theatre company, so he has millions of stories to tell with his theatrical style, and it was there that he gained plenty of experience leading groups of people on multi-day tours.
He has lived almost all his life in Lecce, but is an addicted traveler; no matter the means of transport, his aim is to explore, and that is his way of living life. He is now based in Matera, an amazing UNESCO site, and a perfect location for exploring Southern Italy.
Follow Paolo here
Italian places, foods and concepts mentioned
Places
- Galatina – quiet, sleepy little village in Puglia, known for its association with the pizzica dance and colorful ribbons seen on balconies and lampposts
- Lecce – vibrant city in Puglia, often called the “Florence of the South,” known for its Baroque architecture and lively traditions, including pizzica performances
- Matera – ancient city in the Basilicata region, famous for its cave dwellings (Sassi di Matera) and mystical atmosphere, featured as Paolo’s current home
- Calabria – southern Italian region known for its rugged coastline and traditional beliefs, mentioned in connection with local superstitions
- Naples – bustling southern Italian city, referenced for its famous red horn (corno) good luck charms
Words / Concepts
- Pizzica – a traditional, energetic dance from Puglia believed to have origins in ancient healing rituals for spider bites and mental afflictions; now revived as a celebration of community and tradition
- Tarantella – another name for the pizzica dance, rooted in the story of tarantula (spider) bites and their supposed cures
- Saint Paul – the saint invoked in Puglia's pizzica ritual as the protector against spider poison
- Notte della Taranta – the largest festival in Puglia dedicated to the pizzica, featuring concerts and dance throughout the region in summer
- Ernesto De Martino – an Italian anthropologist who studied and documented the pizzica and related southern Italian rituals
- affascino – local term for a curse or “evil eye,” often resulting from envy or too many compliments, believed to bring misfortune
- European Black Widow – the only truly dangerous spider in southern Italy, potentially responsible for a minority of actual spider bite cases
- Laurieddru – the Lecce-region name for the mischievous house dwarf or elf from local folklore, blamed for hiding household items and associated with hidden treasures
- Pumo – a ceramic good luck charm in the shape of a round bud or fruit with leaves, often seen on balconies in Puglia, signifying abundance and fertility
- Red horn (Neapolitan cornicello) – a traditional Neapolitan amulet shaped like a chili pepper or horn, believed to offer protection and good fortune (also mentioned in passing as a well-known Italian lucky charm)
Related content on Untold Italy
Podcasts
- Ep 309 – Puglia Before Everyone Else Gets There
- Ep 277 – Favorite Beaches of Puglia – Adriatic and Ionian Coasts
- Ep 266 – Murgia – Bread, burrata and Bond!
- Ep 262 – Road tripping Puglia and Basilicata
- Ep 233 – A taste of Puglia – Local flavors and dishes to try
- Ep 229 – How Puglia is redefining its wine culture
- Ep 224 – Brilliant Bari
- Ep 194 – Lovely Lecce – Italy’s southern beauty
- Ep 135 – Ancient connections along Puglia’s pilgrim trails
- Ep 046 – Foodie adventures in Puglia
Articles
- Puglia travel guide
- Things to do in Puglia
- Perfect Puglia towns to discover
- Best agriturismo in Puglia – Top Masserie and Farm Stays
- Best places to stay in Puglia
- Things to do in Lecce
- Things to do in Bari
- Puglia food guide
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