Historic Centre, Culture and Food & Wine at the BIT in Milan: Turi Bets on Quality Tourism
- Turi BorgoAntico
- Sep 1
- 4 min read
At the BIT – International Tourism Exchange in Milan, 2025 edition, one of the most important events on the international tourism scene, Turi proudly declared its presence. Together with the Municipality of Sammichele di Bari, it responded positively to the invitation of ARET – the Regional Tourism Agency PugliaPromozione. The invitation to both municipalities is part of a shared strategy for the development and promotion of the territory with the aim of boosting tourism appeal.
During the conference held on Tuesday 11 February at 2:00 p.m., in the area dedicated to Puglia, the Mayor of Turi, Giuseppe De Tomaso, and the Mayor of Sammichele di Bari, Lorenzo Netti, confirmed their alignment on the principles of an alliance that moves beyond parochialism and towards a path of shared cooperation. The goal is to pool resources and work as a team to make the territory as a whole more attractive and competitive on the tourism market, while at the same time enhancing the unique potential of each municipality.
The occasion also provided both speakers with an opportunity to present the initiatives planned in their respective towns. Following Mayor Netti’s address, Turi’s Mayor De Tomaso, supported by the institutional presence of Deputy Mayor and Councillor Teresa De Carolis, Councillor Pasqualina Susca and Councillor Daniela Di Bello, outlined the actions the administration intends to implement to make Turi increasingly appealing.
Several new initiatives are planned, some of which will be launched as early as 2025. Of particular note is the administration’s strong commitment to the enhancement of the eminent political thinker Antonio Gramsci, not only from a cultural standpoint but also from a structural one: the creation of a museum dedicated to him and the redevelopment of the entire area surrounding the prison. This is a unique feature of Turi’s history and heritage which must be valued, not only to honour Gramsci’s legacy but also to attract high-quality cultural and literary tourism. The ultimate goal is to obtain recognition for Turi as ‘Capital of Culture’ in the name of Gramsci. The reference to Culture is not limited to the artistic sphere – of which Turi has plenty – but also to the intellectual legacy of a great figure who, during the harsh years of the Resistance, wrote much of his celebrated Prison Notebooks within Turi’s very walls.
Another priority is the regeneration of the historic centre, a treasure of beauty which Mayor De Tomaso considers “the city’s calling card”. In this respect, the administration has chosen to support, with free patronage, the project TuriBorgoAntico (www.turiborgoantico.it), presented by a private organisation represented by Dr Francesca Colombo. The project aims to foster social cohesion through initiatives that encourage the community to embrace tourism hospitality while enhancing the historic centre and presenting Turi in a new light, positioning it as a destination for both national and international tourism flows.
The programme also includes meetings and debates on topics such as Culture, Politics and Economics, to be held at the new Auditorium, some of which will be part of the Lector in Fabula festival, organised by the Di Vagno Foundation of Conversano, with which the administration has chosen to collaborate.
Alongside these new developments, the initiatives that already highlight and enhance the unique identity of Turi – making it a destination for visitors – have been confirmed:
the Patronal Feast of Saint Oronzo, one of the largest and most heartfelt celebrations in Puglia, marked by deep faith and centuries-old tradition;
the various festivals dedicated to Turi’s local excellences, part of the food and wine tourism offering in which Turi plays a leading role, attracting visitors even from outside the region.
The municipal administration intends to continue investing in the promotion of local products, in the mastery of pastry-making traditions such as the faldacchea, and in flagship produce such as the Ferrovia cherry, percoche peaches, tronère and local wines. With regard to the cherry, immersive initiatives are also planned in the countryside during the season stretching from blossom to harvest, under the programme entitled “Cherry Time”.
At the BIT, promotional materials and a video about Turi and its events were also presented, thanks to the collaboration of local associations that have long been committed to hospitality and the promotion of the town.
In conclusion, it can be said that Mayor De Tomaso’s administration is firmly focused on quality tourism, intertwined with a pathway that amplifies the value of outstanding food and wine traditions. In the tourism of small villages, identity is key: Gramsci represents a unique and distinctive element for Turi, further enriched by the singular value of our artistic, historical, food and wine, natural and experiential heritage. The potential to offer visitors a wide range of experiences is there, enabling Turi to be an attractive destination all year round.
As underlined in the TuriBorgoAntico project, it is now up to us, the citizens, to contribute to this vision of Turi as a pearl of culture, excellence and beauty.
Angelica De Tomaso
Photo captions:
The delegations of Turi and Sammichele at BIT, at the #WeAreinPuglia stand.
The Turi delegation.
View of Turi’s historic centre from the bell tower of Santa Chiara (photo by Giovanni Palmisano).
Article published by ilpaesemagazine.it, 20 February 2025