{"id":122225,"date":"2023-11-27T09:29:05","date_gmt":"2023-11-27T09:29:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lasixlineon.com\/?p=122225"},"modified":"2023-11-27T09:29:05","modified_gmt":"2023-11-27T09:29:05","slug":"italian-villages-still-using-ancient-greek-dialect-centuries-after-language-died","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lasixlineon.com\/travel\/italian-villages-still-using-ancient-greek-dialect-centuries-after-language-died\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian villages still using Ancient Greek dialect centuries after language died"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Italy is mostly known to have been the home of the Romans who for centuries controlled large portions of Europe, including Britain.<\/p>\n

But in a small area of Apulia, holidaymakers are still able to see the fading traces of colonies established by the Ancient Greeks.<\/p>\n

Hidden away in the heel of the Italian Peninsula, six quaint villages have retained Greek customs and dialects passed on from generation to generation.<\/p>\n

The villages of Calimera \u2013 which, when spelled with a K, means “good morning” in Greek \u2013 Corigliano d’Otranto, Martano, Martignano, Sternatia and Zollino still have residents who speak and understand the dialect.<\/p>\n

The elders in these small Apulian communities are the keepers of historical knowledge, and they still favour the dwindling Griko over the regional dialect that has evolved from ancient Latin.<\/p>\n

For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to\u00a0Daily Express US<\/strong><\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> Venice day trippers to be hit by new tourist tax<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Griko is a Neo-Greek language left over by first the Greek and later on the Byzantines who moved following the Normal invasion and brought along their Greek Orthodox practices, adding a fresh wave of Grecisms to the pre-existing dialect.<\/p>\n

Younger generations have slowly moved towards the more popular Apulian dialect and the Italian language through their schooling, resulting in some of the communities running out of Griko speakers.<\/p>\n

In the 1990s, the six villages formed a union, known as Grecia Salentina (Salentine Greece), with the nearby towns of Castrignano de’ Greci, Melpignano and Soleto to preserve knowledge of Griko.<\/p>\n

Three more villages \u2013 Carpignano Salentino, Cutrofiano e Sogliano Cavour \u2013 joined later on despite having lost the custom of speaking Griko for centuries.<\/p>\n

Much like the rest of Apulia, Grecia Salentina has plenty to offer and visitors will be able to admire the artful intermingling of Roman, Greek and Norman architecture.<\/p>\n

Visitors can fly in to Brindisi, which offers several direct flights to and from the UK, before moving to Lecce, the biggest city in Salento, and the closest to the Hellenic area.<\/p>\n

DON’T MISS: <\/strong>
The beautiful town in Italy that boasts ‘world’s tallest Christmas tree'[DISCOVER] <\/strong>
Inside eerie abandoned mansion hiding a dark secret in the garden[PHOTOS] <\/strong>
Pretty little European village off beaten track named best \u2018hidden gem\u2019 holiday[TRAVEL] <\/strong><\/p>\n