½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

We have recently returned from our 5th visit to Martina Franca. Each morning we had coffee in the same bar, chatting to the staff and generally enjoying the friendly ambience. One evening, my husband (who is ½ûÂþÌìÌà but from Sorrento and therefore a straniero) stopped in at our local bar to get a couple of beers. When he asked the price and was told 3 euros he duly handed over a 5 euro note and waited for the change, only to be told they were 3 euros each. This being Puglia and not London he then looked at the price list above the bar where beers were 1euro30. When he asked about this he was told by, the now very frosty, barman that it was an old list. When he asked to see the new list, which by law they must display, he was told if he didn't like it to take his money and get out (rather less politely). This he did, then went to see the Guardia di Finanza, who took up the matter. This bar had already had 8000 euros worth of fines this year for overcharging tourists!
Thankfully the authorities in Puglia are trying to clamp down on this and I'm certainly not saying that every bar is like this, but please take care and ask to see price lists and check your receipts (also illegal if they don't give you one) as one bad apple can really give you a bad taste.