Sammichele di Bari
Welcome to Sammichele di Bari: a geographical overview
Hello everyone! Today I will talk to you about Sammichele di Bari, a beautiful Italian city located in the Terra di Bari, in Puglia. For those who don't know, Sammichele is famous for its typical product, the Zampina. But before delving into this aspect, let me tell you a bit about the geography of the area.
Sammichele is located in the central area of the Terra di Bari, 27 km south of Bari on the way to Taranto. The territory is located on the Murgia, at an average altitude of 280 meters above sea level, and is surrounded by the municipalities of Casamassima to the north, Turi to the east, Gioia del Colle to the south and Acquaviva delle Fonti to the west. If you like nature, you will find many cultivated fields and farms that practice zootechnics, while the Mediterranean scrub and the Mediterranean steppe occupy the few uncultivated stretches.
A history dating back to the Neolithic
But let's talk about the history of Sammichele. The original settlement dates back to the Neolithic, and the area was inhabited first by the Iapygians and then by the Peucetians, a pre-Roman population. The site where the original settlement was located was along the "Lama" and near the locality called "Frassineto". The area had some importance thanks to its strategic position at the confluence of two important roads: one in the north-south direction ("Vetus via Tarenti") which from the nearby Peucetian city of Thuriae, near today's Turi, passing through "Azetium" (Rutigliano), continues towards the coast just south of "Barium" (Bari); the other in the east-west direction that from "Silvium" (Gravina di Puglia), through the Pirro channel, led to "Gnatia" (Egnazia).
The karst nature
If you are passionate about geology, know that the territory of Sammichele is of karst nature, with red soil and Bari limestone. These layers formed during the Cretaceous period, and gave rise to karst caves and sinkholes. The extra-urban area is bordered to the east by the San Giorgio Lama, which here is called "Lama di Jumo". The areas affected by degradation phenomena are mainly due to the aging of the undergrowth, neglect and abandonment of forestry with consequent phenomena of forest fires, irrational use of the forest resource and the presence of the treatment of wastewater from the municipal sewer system.
The Mediterranean climate
Now let's talk about the climate of Sammichele. The area enjoys typical characteristics of inland and hilly areas of the Mediterranean region, with a Mediterranean climate of the "Csa" subtype according to the classification of Wladimir Köppen. Winters are cool and rainy, summers are hot and dry. The annual average temperature is 14.2 degrees Celsius, with an average January temperature of about 6.7 degrees Celsius and an average July temperature of 22.8 degrees Celsius. During the waves of scirocco and libeccio coming from North Africa, summer temperatures can reach and exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Annual rainfall is around 628 millimeters of rain. Snow usually falls in January and February during waves of cold air coming from Northern Europe or the Balkan Peninsula, when minimum temperatures can drop below zero.
The Zampina of Sammichele
And now, let's move on to the true protagonist of this municipality: the Zampina. It is a typical product of the area, a sausage made of pork stuffed in raw intestine, also typical of Irpinia, Sannio and Alta Murgia. Its characteristic shape is that of a kind of horseshoe, with one end slightly smaller than the other. The main ingredients of the zampina are pork meat, salt, sweet and spicy paprika and various spices. It is a highly appreciated food in the area, especially during festivals and fairs.
In short, Sammichele di Bari is an area rich in history and nature. From its prehistoric origins, to ancient communication routes, to natural beauties, this municipality has a lot to offer. And if you pass by here, you can't miss the chance to taste the Zampina, a delicacy that will conquer you from the first bite.
