The Summer In Italy Newsletter

The Water of Saint John

If time heals all wounds, then the water of St. John cures all ills.  That's the proverb about the "acqua di San Giovanni" which celebrates the feast day of St. John the Baptist on June 24.  On the eve of the festa, people forage in the fields and along the country lanes for wild flowers and aromatic herbs to infuse in water.  The tradition is for at least ten varieties; popular choices are chamomile, lavender, rosemary, rose petals, mint, sage, wild fennel, and bay leaves.  Lemon blossoms and honeysuckle are prized, as well.  But the must-have plant is l'erba di San Giovanni, St. John's Wort.  The elusive yellow flowers, along with its leaves, are important components of the water.

The gathered greens and blossoms are put in a tub of water and left outside overnight.  This is the important part:  the tincture will be blessed by St. John as he passes with powerful, healing dew.  Ancient legend says the dew is created by the tears of Salome, crying over the beheading of John the Baptist.  The feast day coincides with the summer solstice, which is said to impart even more healing properties into the mix, and some people lay out cloths to catch the dew, which they wring out, saving the water in bottles to be used as holy water or a curative elixir later.

In the morning, you wash your face with the aromatic water, or pour it (along with the flowers) into a tub of warm water for a relaxing bath that, tradition says, will bestow blessing and health.

"The water of St. John will cure all ills." - old Italian folk saying

Open Doors in Puglia

The region of Puglia has many hidden treasures, from unknown beaches to historic sights, unusual regional architecture (trulli anyone?) and fantastic food and wine.  But it can sometimes be hard to sniff out the gems, know where to find them, and decipher the sometimes strange opening hours.  That's why the region has started Puglia Open Days, where they publicize the places you'd be most interested in, and make sure the doors are open when you get there!

The program has many options available.  Every Thursday, the Open Days focuses on Wineries, Masserias and Olive Mills.  The interactive map shows where you can go and what you'll do or see at the open wineries, historic farmhouses or working farms, and olive groves.  On Fridays, it highlights Parks, Nature Preserves and Eco-Museums throughout the region, with biking, boating and walking tours, bird watching and other activities in the nature parks.  On Saturdays, it's the Cultural and Artistic sights that get the limelight, with guided tours of historic centers throughout Puglia, with palaces, churches or other historic buildings that aren't usually open to the public as part of the tour.

Visit the interactive website for details and the whole host of open doors you'll find!