APUILIAN PUPE

During the Middle Ages, in a quaint town nestled within the Apulian countryside, a medieval tradition cast a shadow of darkness over the newlyweds of Grottaglie. The rule "Ius primae noctis” was in place, it gave the feudal lord the right to spend the first night with newlywed brides. It was a futile situation for husbands and a cruel imposition that loomed over the lives of the innocent, condemning husbands to surrender their beloved under the threat of death who risked their lives if they refused, and for the brides who suffered because of this unfair tradition. The weight of this unjust tradition bore down on the hearts of the town’s people.


Yet, amid the oppressiveness of this harsh reality, a tale of undying love and courage unfolded. In the heart of Grottaglie, a humble vine-dresser had bound his life to the woman he cherished beyond measure. His love, however, refused to succumb to the tyranny of the feudal lord, and he dared to defy the unjust tradition.

With imagination as his ally and courage as his guide, the vine - dresser dressed as a woman, he snuck past the guards, wearing a beautiful and colorful gown with a fancy feathered hat. Despite carrying a hidden knife, he managed to fool everyone. But there was one small mistake, in his haste, the vine-dresser overlooked a detail that betrayed his disguise.  He had forgotten to shave his mustache and the tapestry of deception unraveled and the feudal lord soon realized he had been tricked.


Whether the vine-dresser got caught and faced the consequences or if he had to give all his wine to the lord remains a mystery. Regardless, this story tells of a brave man who stood up for love and honor in the face of a tough tradition. In the history of Grottaglie, his daring act became a tale of courage and love that people remembered for generations.