town, Puglia (Apulia) region, southern Italy. The town's castle dates from the 14th century; the church of the Matrice has a facade of the same period and a 16th-century stone relief of the Annunciation. Its chief industry is pottery manufacture, and there is a school of ceramics. Grottaglie is named for grottoes in the local rocks. Pop. (2006 est.) mun., 32,610.