Fasano

Fasano is an Italian town of 40,000 inhabitants (2018) in the province of Brindisi in Apulia. Fasano is famous mainly for the Safari Zoo and Fasanolandia, but there are many other tourist attractions such as the national archaeological museum of Egnatia.

Understand
Located in the centre of an ideal triangle whose vertices are the cities of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto, about 50 km away, Fasano marks the border between Salento and the Land of Bari. Its territory includes various hamlets, extending for 15 km on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, penetrating the Valley of Itria.

Fasano is the most highly populated town in the province of Brindisi, after the capital city. It borders with the municipality of Monopoli to the north, the municipalities of Ostuni and Cisternino to the south, the Adriatic Sea to the east, and the municipalities of Locorotondo and Alberobello to the west.

The inhabitants are named "fasanesi" and their Patron Saints are San Giovanni Battista and Santa Maria di Pozzo Faceto. For years, Fasano has been confirmed as one of the top ten locations in the region in terms of tourist arrivals and presences: in 2018 it ranked sixth in Apulia, with about 667,000 visitors and about 157,000 arrivals throughout the year.

History
It originates from the Casale di Santa Maria di Fajano (Santa Maria de Fajano), founded in 1088 by part of the population that had abandoned Egnatia, a highly important port on the ancient Trajan Way. With the fall of the Roman Empire, the city of Egnatia was gradually abandoned. The emigrants took refuge in small rocky villages and founded several hamlets throughout the Fasanese and Monopolitan territory. Meanwhile, Egnazia was repeatedly sacked by the various invaders of Apulia.

On 2 June 1678 the people of Fasano experienced a memorable event: the Victory against the Turks. Tradition has it that the Virgin Mary appeared in the sky to lead the opposition of the inhabitants of Fasano against the Turkish pirates, who landed at night with the intent of plundering the city. That moment of glory is remembered every year with La Scamiciata, on the Feast of the Patron Saints: San Giovanni Battista and Santa Maria di Pozzo Faceto.

During the Fascist era, Fasano experienced a notable urban and infrastructural development: many important buildings were built, such as the I Circolo "Collodi" primary school, or renovated and transformed, such as the municipal villa and the Town Hall. In 1927, the province of Brindisi was established from the southern part of the province of Bari, of which Fasano was part, and from the northern part of the Province of Lecce. Also, during the Fascist era the cross of the Knights of Malta was removed from the municipal coat of arms. It was later restored with the advent of the Republic.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Fasano experienced another important urban development, thanks to various political figures of the time. Today Fasano is a tourist town with a great agricultural and artisan tradition.

In 2008 Caparezza shot some scenes of the video clip of Vieni a ballare in Puglia at the excavations of Egnazia and the dunes of Torre Canne, while in 2012 some episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful were shot in Fasano. In 2013, 2014 and 2015 the three seasons of the Braccialetti rossi drama directed by Giacomo Campiotti were shot in the town.

By train
The of the Ferrovie dello Stato (just outside the town), has a long-distance railway route of regional interest towards Bari, Brindisi and Lecce. In the territory of Fasano there is also the of the State Railways in the Pozzo Faceto district, with regional railway routes to Bari, Brindisi and Lecce.

By bus
In the city there is a coach service to the hamlets and a bus service to Bari, Brindisi and other neighboring towns, as well as some national destinations. The lines are Sita Sud, STP and Ferrovie del Sud Est.

By boat
There is also a small fishing port in Savelletri and Torre Canne. A tourist port has also been built in Savelletri.

See
In Fasano we can find Fasanolandia safari zoo and tourist resorts such as Selva di Fasano, Savelletri and Torre Canne, the seaside beaches, awarded for several consecutive years with the FEE Blue Flag, various accommodation facilities, the national archaeological museum of Egnatia, the Lama d'Antico rock park, the Dune Costiere regional park, the thermal baths of Torre Canne, various sports facilities and various events organised especially during the summer.

Do
The sea of Fasano consists of free coasts or in concession from Savelletri with the cliffs to Torre Canne with the beaches.

Eat
The dishes of Fasano are:
 * Taralli, rings made with flour, wine and oil.
 * Focaccia, a particular bread, similar to a very thick and softer pizza, which can be covered with tomatoes and olives, or stuffed with onions or turnips. The day in which all Fasanese eat focaccia is Good Friday, to abstain from eating meat.
 * Panzerotti, dishes prepared with homemade dough. You make circular pizzas, fill them with mozzarella and tomato and then fold them in half. You then fry them in boiling oil.
 * The zeppole di San Giuseppe, a typical dessert of the South. Fried or baked donuts, decorated on the outside with cream, black cherry and a little cinnamon. They are made on the feast of San Giuseppe.