Carovigno Holidays

The countryside surrounding Carovigno is bursting with 260 hectares worth of olive groves, where some of the trees date back over 3,000 years. The town’s made a name for itself on the gourmet scene with ‘green gold’ – AKA high quality, extra-virgin olive oil. It’s known for its intense fruity flavour, so the locals tuck in with just a hunk of fresh bread.

The triangle-shaped Castello Dentice di Frasso Carovigno’s perched on top of the town’s highest point, which would have made it perfect for spotting potential invasions when it was built back in the 12th century. It’s got a huge tower on each of the three corners, and one of them – the Mandorla Tower – is designed like the hull of a ship. The courtyard’s really camera-friendly, as are the park-like gardens opposite it.

Carovigno’s nestled squarely between two of southern Italy’s largest cities – Lecce and Bari. There’s an age-old rivalry between the pair, with both lining up history, culture and energetic nightlife. Not to mention, their clashes on the football field at the Derby di Puglia are famous for their nail-biting endings. In terms of architecture, Lecce wins by a hair’s breadth thanks to its huge Baroque cathedral. When it comes to food, Bari takes the crown for its delicious pasta.