Life in Grottole
Grottole is an ancient village in southern Italy where daily life is still shaped by tradition, seasonal rhythms, and long-standing community ties. This website exists to share what life here is actually like, beyond surface impressions.
Grottole is best understood slowly, through time, presence, and participation in everyday village life. The pages that follow offer context about the place, its people, and its rhythms, so readers can decide—thoughtfully —whether this way of living resonates with them.
This site exists to offer context about the village I chose to make my home. It reflects daily life in Grottole as it is lived—slowly, relationally, and shaped by long-standing traditions.
Grottole is not a place that reveals itself in a night or two. Its character becomes clear only through time, presence, and participation in ordinary routines. For those drawn to an authentic Italian village where traditions remain part of everyday life, that process of understanding is central.
Over time, what emerges is not only a beautiful ancient village, but the people who sustain it. All photographs on this site are my own, taken as part of daily life here with the exception of amazing city shots of Grottole and Matera from my talented friend: Sergio Manicone.