Cooking Class at an Ancient Masseria

AI Overview

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"A masseria in Puglia is a fortified farmhouse, typically built as a self-sufficient agricultural estate, often found in the Salento region of Puglia. These historic buildings, sometimes dating back to Roman times, served as both homes for landowners and workplaces for farmers and workers. Masserias are characterized by their fortified walls, courtyards, and surrounding agricultural land." Grazie, Google AI

We had a delightful morning at the Masseria Garrappa near Monopolio. Now an event venue offering overnight stays and cooking classes, it is more of a resort than a farm. The de-consecrated chapel is often used for weddings. It still boasts ancient olive trees, a secret garden with fruit trees, and a pool. I feel like it would be a marvelous place to live! We learned how to prepare eggplant parmigiana, focaccia, a few types of pasta and an almond desert. Lunch outside under the shade sails was a great way to taste our efforts.

We made a quick stop in the coastal town of Monopolio where the lack of a sand beach doesn't prevent sun bathers.
I came across a "purgatorio" church for the first time. This is a church where patrons went to pray for poor souls who died without families, helping them to get to Heaven.