About the Project

“People of Grottole” is a project by Sarah Locher and Christoph Labacher. It was created as part of an artist residency in November 2024 at Wonder Casa, organized by Wonder Grottole.

This digital magazines contains over 50 portraits and stories of residents of Grottole. With the project we aim to capture the town’s vibrant and diverse community.

When we visited Grottole for the first time in 2023, it didn’t take long for us to fall in love with it: Its rich history and culture, its beautiful architecture and its monuments, as well as the breathtaking landscape and nature surrounding it make it easy to be smitten.

But beyond that there is something very special here, so you feel a part of the community instantly. As a foreigner coming to Grottole, it doesn’t take more than a few days before you are recognized on the street and greeted warmly wherever you go. The hospitality of Grottole’s people makes it easy to get to know everyone and to build relationships.

Many of the inhabitants of Grottole carry on age-old traditions: Growing not just vegetables, but also making their own wine and their own olive oil from trees in their campagna (fields). They are happy to let you take part in their heritage. In Grottole, traditions and culture are effervescent.