In the Puglia plains known as the "murgia" Ginosa sits on a rocky ledge with ravines cutting through the landscape. Ginosa is a town in the province of Taranto and lies on the border with Basilicata. At the altitude of 240 metres above sea level.
The town district includes the suburb Ginosa Marina, a popular seaside resort with wide and soft sandy beaches on the shore of the Ionian Sea. South of the settlement, on the western side of the ravine, the village of Rivolta, inhabited since the Middle Ages, presents itself as a cluster of cave-houses entirely carved out of rock staggered along five superimposed levels. It represents a complex rock-built urban layout characterized by numerous underground spaces, cisterns, streets, staircases and hanging gardens.The little lake, Lago Salinella, at the mouth of the Bradano River, is a heaven for migratory birds. 

Since it early ages its stronghold position was an attractive for many settlers. The "Ginosino" area was already inhabited in the Neolithic age, later by the Messapi (Italic population with origins in the area), but it reaches its maximum splendor during the Greek and Roman ages. Excavations revealed that GInosa had a human presence even in the Bronze Age. But it was the arrival of the Greeks that brought it into a real trading center. The ancient city of Genusium was established here as an important Greek center between Taranto and Metaponto in the grand era of Magna Grecia. Greek influences are clearly felt, even today.  Genusia, its Greek name, by the Roman writer "Sesto Giulio Frontino" offered asylum to Pitagora. After the fall of the Roman Empire of the Occident and the Barbarian invasions, the population of Genusia moved from the plain to search for shelter in the nearby caves, some natural and others built in the soft tuff stone of the clefts. Here the Bizantine monks, devoted to Saint Basilio, gave a large contribute to the building and decoration of a larger living reality (famous the wall paints in the cave churches such as Santa Sofia).
At the end of the Middle Ages there was a slow decline of the cave civilization and the inhabitants started to move towards the hill area where the town actually is situated.

The city was fortified by Manfred, son of Frederick II. It was passed among various rulers and feudal lords for centuries, being the domain of noble families like the Sanseverini, the Orsini and the Doria. 

The most important monument of Ginosa is the Castello Normanno (Norman Castle). It was built in 1080 by Robert Guiscard to defend the city from the invasions of Saracen troops. Originally the castle was adorned by three towers and a drawbridge, all destroyed during the 16th century, when the town became a barony of the Doria family. It was the Doria who changed the castle's defensive face to a palazzo

 The castle subsequently became a residential palace and also today overlooks the most ancient area of the town. The castle is also part of the comune's coat of arms.The Chiesa Madre (mother church) was built in 1554 and is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, one of the most popular saints in France. It is a typical southern Italian Baroque style church.To the places of worship belong the churches dedicated to St. Bartholomew, Mater Domini, Mark the Evangelist, St. Vitus the Elder, St. Peter, San Felice, St. John of Matera and the crypt of Eliseo. The Santa Sofia and Santa Barbara settlements date back to the Middle Ages and are characterized by a vestibule and traces of frescoes on the walls. 

The Pro Loco Ginosa stages the Passion Christi. An acting of the twenty-two biblical scenes that tell the story of Jesus, beginning with the Annunciation, Birth, through the temptations and beatifications to the entrance to Jerusalem and the Last Supper, and concludes with the crucifixion and resurrection. On the night of Holy Saturday when a Passion play is staged in its ravine, a thoroughly effective revival that makes admirable use of microphones and modem lighting. Before it starts, city dignitaries and religious confraternities escort the cast of actors and children in a procession through the city and along the ravine, which is brightly lit by flares. The audience follows, trooping down the dark, twisting streets to a natural amphitheatre opposite the old cave settlement. They sit on the ground, hissing and booing when Judas betrays Christ, and cheering when he hangs himself from a wild fig-tree. The surrounding ravines are fascinating to explore; they are sprinkled with cave churches.

Its cuisine is typically Mediterranean. Durum wheat grows in abundance and is used for making pasta and bread. The pasta from Puglia is made without eggs as they were once considered to be a luxury. The most famous pasta is 'oriecchiette' (meaning little ears) which is still made daily by the elder women. The bread made in Ginosa, which accompanies all meals, is more diverse than many other regions in Italy and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. It is cooked in traditional wood burning bread ovens and there are  communal bread ovens where the locals go to bake their bread every day. Vegetables obviously grow well in the warm climate and are used in abundance, always fresh and always seasonal. 

Ginosa is rocky and here there are many sheep and goats which are bred for their meat as well as their milk which is used for a variety of cheeses. Lamb is the most popular meat, followed by pork and horsemeat with beef, although now becoming more popular, being used very little.

The prevailing element of Ginosa economy is breeding and agriculture. 

Ginosa is very important for the production of oil, wine, table grapes, vegetables and hard wheat. The breedings are above all of ovine and cattle. There are farms, farmhouses, wine and olive consortiums.