Guìdo Piovène, at the end of his 1953 Journey in Italy, provided an assessment of Salènto's economy. The conclusions were rather dramatic: "Wealth is solely agricultural, and even along the coasts, which were malarial until not long ago, rugged and with uncertain harbors, the sparse population consisted more of farmers than seafaring people. Industry is almost non-existent, and there is little inclination for industrial initiatives."

Even in the years immediately following Piovène's analysis, for many people from Pùglia, the only dignified choice remained to leave.

For many of them, the destination station was Lugàno, in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland.

Every summer, the square in front of Tórre Sàn Giovànni fills with faces and voices full of those memories and nostalgia. It's the Feast of the Emigrant, which not only recalls the stories of the Salentines who bid farewell to these places but also provides an interesting reference point for travelers from overseas.

Those who return or arrive for the first time in Pùglia are in search of familiar faces but also of accommodations and digital services. "Roots tourism" seems to have a positive impact on economic benefits in rural areas, youth employment, and the integration of efficient tools in tourism flow management policies.