One of the most beautiful examples of military architecture in the Renaissance period, the Castle of Corigliano d’Otranto marks the transition from medieval square towers to the typical round ones of the 16th century.
The facade is a Baroque triumph with decorative shelves and anthropomorphic figures. The statues, placed inside niches, represent virtues and personalities of the time, while the by now indecipherable mottos of Andrea Peschiulli triumph on the architraves.
HISTORY – In the 16th century, on a pre-existing 15th century building, Giovan Battista delli Monti made important changes aimed at the military fortification. At the end of the Delli Monti family, the castle passed to the Trani family who, in 1667, transformed it into a ducal palace thanks to the structural and decorative interventions of the architect Francesco Manuli.
The Castello de ’Monti in Corigliano d’Otranto, also known by the name of Castello Volante, thus reveals the transition from a medieval fortress to a ducal residence.
The manor, inside, nowaday houses a library, a tourist information point, a bookshop and a bar and it is home to cultural initiatives such as temporary exhibitions, musical reviews and live performances.
If you don’t know where to sleep in Salento, here you will find some useful advice.
The warmth of the welcome, the sweetness of the Christmas dishes, the beauty of the lights: at ChristmasSalento dresses up showing its most authentic and surprising face!
THINGS TO DO
For those who know the most south-eastern land of Italy only for the crystalline sea, the golden beaches and the summer nightlife, the Christmas holidays are an opportunity to discover an unprecedented, but no less fascinating side of Salento, of which Lecce is the most sparkling showcase.
Traditional cuisine, markets and events fill the Christmas calendar. The lights, in the typical Salento style, frame a magical period.
MARKETS AND LIGHTING
Lecce boasts an old town entirely decorated with the imposing luminous tree in the central Piazza Sant’Oronzo which is paired with the traditional life-size nativity scene in the square in front of the Cathedral. From the 7th December, the city is preparing to welcome Christmas events: Piazza Mazzini, the commercial heart of the city, hosts the toy market and the romantic carousel, while the former convent of the Teatini hosts “Fiera di Santa Lucia” with the exhibition of handmade nativity scenes and statuettes.
Otranto, a jewel set on the Adriatic side, hosts food and wine festivals, exhibitions, small concerts spread throughout the city to celebrate the New Year.
“Castello Volante” in Corigliano d’Otranto is preparing for a Christmas program full of events between the concerts of the independent music Festival “Sei” and the markets. To visit the charming village of Grecìa Salentina, you can stay in this splendid villa:
LIVING NATIVITY
Living nativity scenes are a suggestive tradition throughout Salento. There are several municipalities that give life, during the holidays, to the reproduction of the typical scenes of the Nativity.
Tricase makes a small hill strewn with olive trees and oaks in Monte Orco the perfect setting for the rich living nativity scene with hundreds of extras who animate it. Castro, on the other hand, a fishing village further south of Otranto, stages the Middle Ages with knights and flag-wavers. Between history and legend, one of the most exciting moments is the Mass at the stake of a witch and the beautiful procession in costume. In some staging it is also possible for the occasion to buy some typical gastronomic products of the area and sold by tradesmen.
Other representations can be visited in Specchia, Strudà and Nardò. In particular, Nardò will be embellished by the carousel and the former Carmelite Convent will host the concert series “Classical Neretum – Christmas 2021”.
Purceddhruzzi, mustazzoli and almond paste fish will immerse you in the sweetness of the holiday period.
The purceddhruzzi are tiny and sweet little pieces of fried dough, covered with honey and colored sprinkles. Here you will also find the recipe!
Mustazzoli resemble large pastries with a heart made of sugar, flour, almonds and honey with a chocolate glaze coating. Of Arab origin, these sweets do not rise.
Almondpaste is a tradition of Salento pastry at Christmas. With the shape of the fish, derived from an ancient Christian symbolism (for which the fish is a representation of the Child Jesus), this dessert is made of almond paste, obtained by grinding almonds and sugar, and has a filling with jam with flakes of chocolate.
Pittule, small morsels of leavened and fried dough, are an excellent finger food as an aperitif to open dinners and lunches. They can also be filled in various ways with the most genuine products of this land and beyond (tomatoes, capers, cauliflower, cod).
Pasticciotti are the most famous sweets of Salento and, therefore, inevitable at Christmas. Here, you will find our recipe but if you want to taste the historical ones you have to go to Galatina and visit the famous pastry “Ascalone“. Take the opportunity to take a tour of the well-kept old town of the city of St. Peter and Paul, with its characteristic rooms and the enchanting Basilica of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, entirely frescoed.
Corigliano D’Otranto e Specchia: cosa hanno in comune i due piccoli borghi del Salento distanti una trentina di km l’uno dall’altro? Non tutti lo sanno, ma queste due località si sono aggiudicate la “Bandiera Arancione”, il premio per l’eccellenza dei comuni dell’entroterra assegnato dal Touring Club.
Ebbene sì, il Salento è famoso soprattutto per le spiagge e per i chilometri di costa, ma a chi viene in vacanza nel Tacco d’Italia non sarà sfuggito di notare quanta bellezza e tradizione ci sia anche nei piccoli borghi, quelli lontani dalla costa, pieni di storia e di tradizione.
La “Bandiera arancione”, assegnata dal 1998, è marchio di qualità turistico-ambientale. Bellezza del patrimonio storico-culturale e qualità nell’accoglienza dei turisti hanno fatto di Specchia e Corigliano d’Otranto i due fra i borghi più belli di tutta la Puglia.
CORIGLIANO D’OTRANTO – Uno dei comuni più caratteristici della Grecìa Salentina, grazie alle tipiche case a corte che impreziosiscono il centro storico e fulcro culturale salentino di grande fermento, grazie alle attività che si svolgono all’interno del Castello De’ Monti, antico maniero dalla nobile facciata barocca.
A soli 25 km da Lecce, la ricchezza delle tradizioni del piccolo comune si rispecchia persino nella lingua locale, il griko, antica eredità della dominazione ellenica. Di derivazione bizantina sono anche i nomi delle vie. L’Arco Lucchetti, che sormonta l’entrata di una piccola corte, racconta, attraverso i simboli bizantini intagliati nella pietra, l’amore di un uomo per la sua sposa.
SPECCHIA – Il piccolo comune del Sud Salento (circa 54 km da Lecce) vanta già un prestigioso riconoscimento, ovvero la menzione fra i “Borghi più belli d’Italia”. In effetti, passeggiando per le assolate viuzze, dove il tempo sembra essersi fermato e dove la vita scorre lenta, non si fa fatica a capire perché il borgo si sia meritato questi riconoscimenti.
Un dedalo di vicoli intricati, di case a corte dai balconi in fiore e di incroci impreziositi dalle tradizionali nicchie con i santi: il centro storico di Specchia, oggi albergo diffuso, è un’esperienza per gli occhi!
A suggellare questo splendore gli edifici più famosi: Castello Risolo, il Convento dei Francescani Neri e la Colonna dell’Immunità, così chiamata perché bastava toccarla per garantirsi l’immunità dall’arresto. Comune dalle mille virtù, Specchia è nota per la sua qualità della vita, per l’uso di fonti rinnovabili e per i frantoi ipogei.
Per scoprire dove soggiornare per visitare questi e altri borghi del Salento, date un’occhiata qui:
Viaggio nel Salento 