The Italian Center for UFO Studies (CISU) has made available an unprecedented geo-localized digital catalog of UFO sightings in the Puglia region. This online database compiles nearly 1,000 cases documented over four decades by researcher Lello Cassano, now accessible with detailed information including date, location, sighting descriptions, and multimedia evidence when available. The initiative follows the 2022 publication of Cassano’s comprehensive book "UFO sulla Puglia," enhancing the accessibility and usability of regional UFO archives through technology.
CISU’s new platform enables users to geographically trace the history of sightings across Puglia, linking reports to specific places and providing references and hypotheses for identification. This service is hosted on CISU’s official website and is designed to facilitate both public and academic engagement by allowing witnesses and researchers to explore local sighting patterns. Previous geo-localization efforts in UFO documentation have been limited to a few international organizations; CISU’s regional focus marks a significant expansion of this approach in Italy.
This development signals an important step toward the systematic cataloguing and study of anomalous aerial phenomena within localized contexts. By grounding sighting reports in precise geographic data, the database supports comparative analysis and aids in identifying trends or clusters over time. Such structured archives offer greater potential for scientific scrutiny and contribute to wider discussions around the cultural and social dimensions of UFO reports in Italy and beyond.
Source: MUFON
