|
You can find numerous castles, monuments, museum, palaces and beautiful villas which testify a past rich in history and fascination along all the peninsula of Salento and in the hinterland. An enviable artistic heritage which brings to discover the history, the art and the ancient traditions of the territory through an ideal itinerary. You can visit castles and museum from the morning to the evening, whit a lunch break, during summer. The historical villas are almost all of private property and for this reason you can visit them making a request to the owners or in the occasion of some manifestations or concerts.
Gallipoli
The Castle
It is situated on east side of the city and it dominates both the bridge and the port situated on the north side of the castle. It overlooks the sea both towards sirocco and towards east; it is joined to the city by a bridge which was a wooden drawbridge in the past. It was originally bordered by two big round bastions which collapsed shaping a valid cliff against the outburst of the breakers in defence of the castle. This is one of the very rare castles which are directly on the sea and its construction dates from 1281 by Carlo I from Angiò.
The Greek-Roman fountain.
It is the most ancient fountain in Italy. It arise nearby the bridge which joins the new village to the old city. This fountain has two fronts: one on the north wind, of a new structure which deserves not much comments, and the other front, on sirocco, which is much older and ruined by the aggression of bad weather. Built about in the III century BC, it was originally situated in the area of ancient baths called “fontanelle”; in 1548 it was transported in a place near the city where it remained until 1560 but it was dismantled and rebuilt on the actual place. The south façade is divided into three squares which support the architrave and a rich decorum and it is 5mt tall. There are represented the three metamorphosis of the mythological Dirce, Dalmace and Biblide on the bas-relieves got by local hard stones; Latin distiches of moral contents about the three legends are cut on the superior part of the sculptures.
OTRANTO
The castle
The system was planned by Ciro Ciri together with Francesco di Giorgio Martini and it was building by Ferdinando I D’ Aragona between 1485 and 1498 incorporating the svevo fortifications and the improvements introduced by Turks who had occupied the city for more than a year (1480). Surrounded by a moat, this castle has a pentagonal irregular plant, three angular cylindrical towers and a sharp bastion with two external ramparts on the sea side; on the bastion there are the coats of arms of Antonio De Mendoza and Don Pedro from Toledo. On the entrance door there is the coat of arms of Carlo V.
The Cathedral
This Cathedral was founded in about 1080 with the intention to impose the basilica model of the Reformation in the Greek area; it was at first a church with a nave and two side aisles, with two lines of arches on pillars, large transept at only one hall concluded by three apses; then at the half of the XII century, it was made a tripartition of the transept by transverse arches and by the above-elevation of the longitudinal body and the substitution of the pillars for marble columns and capitals.
LECCE
Saint Oronzo’s square
The name of the square is due to Saint Oronzo’s statue situated on the summit of the column made in 1666. This square is situated at the centre of the city characterized by constructions in part of late nineteenth-century and in part of ‘900. Nearby the square there is the Sedile (Seat) which was the seat of the municipality until 1851 constituted by Gothic forms doors and a large superior arcade.
Cathedral’s square
This square is contained between numerous palaces in a baroque style and the main church of the city. On the right side there is the Seminary constituted by a decorated loggia on the portal, windows with rich frames and a baroque well on the internal courtyard. The Episcopal palace, 1632, is characterised by an arcade with arches divided by semicolumns.
Amphitheatre
It is the best kept Romanic monument of the city and it occupies in a large part Saint Oronzo’s square. Built in the II century, the lower sector of the gallery is the rest of this monument which is separated from the arena by a balustrade.
SANTA MARIA DI LEUCA
The Sanctuary
This sanctuary arose on the place of a temple of Minerva and it is called de Finibu Terrae which means “to the borders of the Land”. It is the destination of frequent pilgrimages. People believe that if you don’t visit this sanctuary while you are alive, you should go after your death to gain access to the Kingdom of Heaven. This sanctuary goes back to the first century A.D. and it suffered damages and destruction by saraceno’s people and other invaders. It has been rebuilt in 1720 as it appears today.
PORTO CESAREO
It is one of the most beautiful places in Salento thanks to its “natural port” which overlooks on the Big Island called Rabbits’ Island too. It spaces out only 500mt from the coast and it is covered by a pinewood. The sea beds present a characteristic sub-tropical environment. You can find corals at a minimum depth and at a short distance by the coast; the gastropod “Mitra Zonata” whose dark shell whit brown bands is very sought-after is considered a rarity by collectors.
The coast of Porto Cesareo is jagged and varied: from the chalky open spaces of the terraces to the beaches where the coastal dune has a thick vegetation among gulfs, inlets, rocky rams, rocks and small islands. The integrity of the sea beds is testified by the recent sighting of specimen of Caretta which is a rarity in the peninsular Italy. The announcement in an unofficial way of the institution of 6 marine reserves, among which that of Porto Cesareo, was already given by Ronchi Secretary during the First National Protected Natural Areas Conference organized in Rome, 25-28 September 1997, by the Ministry of the Environment. The involved area includes Porto Cesareo and Nardò, both in Lecce’s province.
GALATINA
The Cathedral
Dedicated to Pietro and Paolo apostoles, Patron Saints of the city, this church dates from an ancient age even if it is not possible to specify the year of his foundation. However, the time of the beginning of one of the most old building of this temple can be established at about the half of the XIV century. This church officiated in Greek rite until Sisto IV pontiff (1471-1484) who ordered to all the ecclesiastics of the dioceses to adopt the Latin rite. Parish church, reduced in precarious static conditions, it was rebuilt in 1621-1633 and it was elevated from Parish to Collegiate church in 1664. The building was finished in 1770. This church, in a late baroque style, is made with leccese’s stone. It overlooks on the square with the same name Saint Pietro and it is dedicated not to the Apostoles’ Princes but to the Immaculate Conception of Mary. There are interesting frescos on the vault which represent the life of S.Pietro made by the Neapolitan Vincenzo Paliotti in 1875, and beautiful altars made of polychrome marble. In the old big chapel of the Sacrament there is an altar with the statue of the Immaculate of white marble made by Giuseppe Sammartino. There are also paintings which represent the Wash of foot, made by Serafino Elmo in 1756, Jesus walking on water and the Apparition of Jesus to Pietro. Don’t ignore the silver head and shoulders statue of S.Pietro and the treasury of the relics and vestments, altar cloths and holy vessels given by Lorenzo Mongiò monsignor, bishop of Lanciano and then of Pozzuoli.
MAGLIE
The Cathedral or Collegiate church.
It is the main church of the city and it maintains the Greek denomination as Big church.
It arises on the same place of two preceding churches, respectively of XVI and XIV centuries.
Even though it is not possible to indicate neither the designer nor the years of its building, it is still possible to fix the construction in the second half of ‘700 and to attribute the project to Felice de Palma architect from Alessano.
This church has a chiaroscuro façade which follows the course of the road.
The interior presents three large naves on sturdy pillars. The Greater and two altars on the transepthead emerge for their plastic quality sculpted on the stone and painted by hand by Emanuele Orfano. There is the statue of Our Lady of Mercy on the Greater and the statues of Pietro and Paolo apostles on the other altars; in the presbytery there is a ligneous 80 stalls chorus.
There is the chapel of the Sacrament on the right wing of the transept; it is covered by polychrome marble, a work of the Neapolitan Domenico d’Aloia. On the lateral walls there are two ovals painted by Oronzo Tiso: The Madonna and Child and Saint Gaetano on one oval and Saint Francesco from Paola on the other. There are also paintings made by Pietro Bardellino an Saverio Lillo on the two altars.
CASARANO
The Maria Santissima Annunziata Cathedral
This church was built on the explicit will of Orazio Fortunato bishop, from 1699 to 1712 on a pre-existent religion place of which there is still some traces on the external right side. On the summit of the door there is a niche with the statue of Beggar S.Giovanni, patron saint of the city, with two statues of archangels. On the superior side, there is a tondo where the date of finished work and the origin of the contributions are reported. The façade finishes with two niches in which there are Saint Pietro and Paolo’statues. The Latin cross with a starlike cover interior is divided into a presbytery, a transept and five lateral chapels, three on the right side and two on the left side of the nave.
There is a big painting made by Oronzo Tiso (XVIII century) which represent the Babylonia’s Furnace in front of the façade.
The Baptistery is collocated on left side of the entrance.
SANTA CESAREA TERME
Miramare Palace
This palace was built at the beginning of 1930 on the order of Tamborrino Senator; it was a summer residence of the Bank’s employees (The still existent Tamborrino Bank). It was subsequently used as an hotel, a casino and a cinema. During the Second World War, the American troops used this palace as a headquarters and they ordered to build the sea small squares. During the ’80 years, some locals had been used as summer houses of particular prestige for the large terrace which overlooks on the sea.
NARDO
The old town centre
This town has legendary and old origins. The old centre has its fulcrum in Salandra Square which is characterized by civil and religious monuments arose between XVI and XVIII centuries (the Seat, the Spire of the Immaculate, the City Palace today magistrates’ court ). There is also the baroque church of Saint Domenico. The Romanic Cathedral is situated in Pio XI square: in its interior you can find valuable frescos of different ages and the Black Christ is revered; it 2000 there was a lot of pilgrims because of it was inserted in the Jubilee courses.
COPERTINO
The castle
Arisen in the Norman-svevo age, it was extended and refined by the Angioinos. It is possible that Isabella Chiaromonte, daughter of Tristan and Caterina Orsini del Balzo, was born here and he became Queen of Naples. This impressive military structure was built in 1540 according to the military-architectual standard imposed by the discovery of the gunpowder. This project is a work of the soldier architect Evangelista Menga who made it for will of Alfonso Castriota as you can read on the east curtain: DON ALFONSUS CASTRIOTA MARCHIO ATRIPALDAE / DUX PRAEFECTUSQUE CAESARIS ILLUSTIUM DON ANTONII GRANAI CASTIOTAE ET MARIAE CASTRIOTAE CONIUNGUM (sic!) DUCUM FERRANDINAE ET COMITUM CUPERTINI PATER PATRUUS ET SOCER ARCEM HANC AD DEI OPTIMI MAXIMI HONOREM CAROLI V RE / GIS ET IMPERATORIS SEMPER AUGUSTI STATUM ANNO DOMINI MDXL.
The Cathedral
Collegiate church is one of the most riches in history among the churches of the Diocese of Nardò. It represent the casket of the religious and civil history of Copertino. Goffredo the Norman started the construction in 1088 and it was finished by Manfredi from Svevia in 1235 who provided it with numerous privileges becoming a Basilica named Virgin of the Snows. In 1400, Tristano Chiaromonte confirmed the old privileges and he provided this church with some prerogatives which allowed to the collective Chapter to set against the Episcopal power of the Diocese in Nardò on which it depended. The structure of today is the synthesis of different reconstructions made during the centuries. The pentagonal apse room realized by Francesco Maria Tarantino’s group in 1576 is one of the most important reconstructions. The sixteenth-century bell tower is of a considerable “neretina” linguistic exceptionality.
CASTRO
Zinzulusa cave
Ancient roman “fortified camp” (Castrum), it is today a tourist locality on the Adriatic sea at the and of Italy. The beauty of this sea and the whiteness of the town which is divided into Castro and Castro coast-line deserve to be visited.
Zinzulusa cave has a particular drape of stalactites eroded by the sea which look like clothes hanged to dry (zinzuli) and it is directly situated on a transparent and rich in colours sea.
In a remote antiquity, this cave was inhabited; it has typical phenomenon likes stalactites and stalagmites.
UGENTO
Assunta’s Cathedral
After being destroyed by Saracens in 1537, this church was rebuilt in 1700.
The balustrade in polychromatic marble, the Major Altar and a picture dedicated to The Virgin of the Rosary are very interesting to see.
Episcopal Palace
Next to the cathedral there is the Episcopal palace rebuilt on the place of the old palace destroyed in 1537. The hall with a rich font is of particular value.
TRICASE
The Gallone’s princely palace
This is the actual townhall and it is formed by three principal elements: the Tower, the Keep and the real body of the structure. The first two part are the most old and they still have the characteristic structures of the fourteenth century; the central part, built in 1661 by Stefano II Gallone first prince in Tricase, is the body of the Castle. This Castle was the house of the Gallones. Tradition says that Stefano II Gallone wanted to build as much rooms as the number of the days in an year, and a room called “of the throne” which contained more than a thousand of persons. In Fifties the municipality of Tricase bought this palace.
GALATONE
Fulcignano Castle
It has a quadrangular form with walls 8mt high 2,60mt thick. The frontal part is strengthened by two square towers. You can enter in the enclosure crossing an arch with an acute curve. The best period of Fulcignano is collocated in the half of the XIV century. Its decadence occurred consequently to the angioinos wars and to that between Orsini del Balzo and Ottino de Castris.
The church is dedicated to Maria SS. Assunta and it is the biggest church in the city. It was built by Giovanni Maria Tarantino and Scipione Fanuli from 1591 to 1595.The interior has fours chapels on each side of the nave and two chapels on the transept.
The bell tower was built in different periods between 1599 and 1750; it has three floors like superimposed prisms. There are pictures of artistic value: the picture of S .Sebastiano made by Mattia Preti and the picture of the Crucifixion made by Donato Antonio D’ Orlando. The historical archives contain three Greek codes.
SPECCHIA
Protonobilissimo-Risolo Castel
It was built in 1500 but it has seventeeth and eighteeth-centuries elements. It was of Rattas, then of Del Balzos, of Di Capua, of Gonzagas, of Brandas, of Tranis, of Protonobilissimos property; it belongs today to Risolos. The imposive door is surmounted by the family’s coat of arms to the height of the keystone. On the two sides there are collocated two head and shoulders statues. There is a large arcade on the entrance. There is also a majestic battlemented tower on the left.
Parish church
It was built in 1605 but the façade and the central nave was remade in 1700. In this period the two lateral naves were built because of the growth of the population. The pillars are made with leccese stone and they are plastered in a Venetian way; the triumphal arches are decorated with floral motives.
|
B&B Salento - Gallipoli Rivabella Sannicola in Puglia nella provincia di Lecce