By Thanos Voudouris, founder and administrator IAmGreece.org

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The “Griko” Greeks of Southern Italy continue to Preserve Greek Culture through the millenia!

Sternatia (Griko: Χώρα, translit. Chòra) is a small town and comune in the province of Lecce, Apulia, southern Italy, by the tip of the boot-heel of Italy. It is one of the nine towns of Grecìa Salentina where the greek dialect Griko is spoken.
The Greeks first began to colonize Southern Italy in since around the 7th century BC. The area was so densely populated by the Greeks in the antiquity, that the Romans called the Southern Italy area Magna Graecia (meaning “Greater Greece”) .The Messinian straight that separates Sicily from the rest of Italy is so named after the Messinian people who were one of the first to colonize, and Messina is  the main city by the straights.

Vasileios Gotsis writes: I highly encourage you all to visit Magna Graecia, find ways to help keep the Greko/Griko dialects going and the towns and villages strong. These people are living, breathing ancient Greek statues come to life (ok with clothes on). Reach out to them

Thanks to Vasileios Billy Cotsis for bringing this special moment to our attention!

Grecìa Salentina, chatting to a Griko man about gardening in Sternatia.
Fantastic HD video! Enjoy! [ Best to click and view in full screen ]

This is a trailer for the second of three documentaries we shot in the Greko and Griko towns of Southern Italy. The ancient/Byzantine Greeks left their mark, and it was amazing for us to see their legacy. This trailer is for the Greko area of Calabria, shot by Basil.

Magna Graecia: the Greko of Calabria