Grecìa Salentina

Have you ever heard of Grecìa Salentina? It is a geo-linguistic area of Salento with interesting features not only in its peculiar language.

Let us show and tell you something more about this territory with a history of its own and many beauties and gems to give to visitors.

What is the Grecìa Salentina exactly?

The sub territory know as Grecìa Salentina is an area made up by 11 municipalities where, once upon a time the ancient language “griko” was spoken, and that had (and still has) a strong Hellenic (i.e. Greek) influence, currently also taught in schools because it is part of an important heritage that is to be preserved.

The eleven municipalities composing the terrotory og Grecìa Salentina are Calimera, Carpignano Salentino, Castrignano de ’Greci, Corigliano d’Otranto, Cutrofiano, Martano, Martignano, Melpignano, Soleto, Sternatia and Zollino.

This linguistic area still expresses the Greekness that originally affected a larger area whose culture and tradition are reflected in the small daily reality of the villages.

In fact, some traditions still survive today, including the musical review of the Songs of the Passion, or a tradition handed down orally which sees the local singers perform in griko “I Passiuna tu Christu” and “Lu Santu Lazzaru”.

What to see in the Grecìa Salentina

There are places that preserve pieces of the peculiar history of Grecìa Salentina. Let’s see some of them.

Pozzelle in Castrignano de Greci

The Pozzelle are underground water tanks dug into the depressions of karst origin.

Once people used to gather around the wells, on their way to get water, thus making them a meeting place to chat and gossip.

Next to the wells stood stone piles used to water the cattle.

Other examples of pozzelle are currently also found in Martignano, Soleto and Zollino.

Castello De Monti in Corigliano d’Otranto

Castello del Monti in Corigliano d’Otranto is a beautiful example of feudal military architecture.Today it hosts exhibitions and events, respecting the artistic safeguard; it also houses a cocktail lounge bar that allows you to admire the beautiful view from the terrace.

Stele marmorea attica (Attic marble stele) in Calimera

“ZENI ESU’ EN ISE ETTU’ ‘S TI KALIMERA” nobody is foreigner here in Calimera: so says the engraving of the marble stele donated by the city of Athens to Calimera in the 4th century.

You can find it in the municipal park of Calimera.

Marvels in Melpignano

Known all over the world for the Taranta Night festival, in which even the griko culture has the right space and homage, Melpignano is a place with beautiful and important architectural and cultural outposts.

Among these, the Convent of the Augustinians (on whose square the final “big concert” of the Festiva takes place), Piazza San Giorgio and the Palazzo Marchesale Castriota.

The latter is another example of a marvelous originally defensive structure, as the imposing walls, walkways and lookout towers suggest; later it became a noble residence and it is this use that the building owes its friezes and frescoes.

The mysterious Dolmen and Menhir

Throughout the Grecìa Salentina you can admire ancient funerary structures dating back to the 5th millennium BC, Dolmen and Menhir; these are present in Italy only in Puglia, Sicily, Liguria and Sardinia while similar examples are found in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain and Portugal.