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G7 Spouses Tour Apulia

Chiara Barsanti, G7 Research Group
June 15, 2024

After stopping at the ceramics district of Grottaglie in Taranto, where they were welcomed by Vice Mayor Vincenzo Quaranta and presented with ceramic gifts, they travelled to the historic centre of Alberobello.

Tucked away about half an hour away from Borgo Egnazia where the leaders were meeting, and about an hour's drive from Bari, Alberobello is a charming town of 10,000 residents, renowned for its rich history of olive oil, grain and picturesque limestone architecture. Here, the group enjoyed an exquisite Apulian lunch at the discreet Casanova Ristorante. The menu featured cured meats, burrata, focaccia, bread and olive gnocchi, and chicory timbale.

As they dined, a small crowd of locals and curious onlookers gathered by the entrance. Although no one had anticipated the G7's presence, the crowd murmured with excitement as they waited. Among the spectators, two young Italian women expressed their delight at the unexpected interruption to their day and were pleased that the G7 summit was being hosted close to their hometown of Monopoli. Francesco De Carlo, the mayor of the city of Trulli, remarked, "the emotion is great, and my city responded with joy and enthusiasm."

However, not everyone was pleased with the G7's presence. A tour operator expressed frustration that the disruption caused his clients to cancel their bicycle tour at the last minute. Interestingly, this was not the first time an international summit had interfered with his plans; in 2011, he missed a U2 concert due to riots in Geneva against the human rights summit.

The spouses merrily exited their lunch a little after 4 p.m. The police presence and crowds soon after dissipated.

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