Holiday apartment in Alessano – Culture, Olive Oil Heritage and Pilgrimage Routes

At the foot of the Serra dei Cianci lies Alessano, whose historic centre preserves a medieval-Mediterranean urban structure with cobbled lanes, houses with courtyards, stone portals, ornately designed balconies and small churches.

Historic Centre and Church Art

The Chiesa madre di San Salvatore was built in the second half of the 18th century in place of a Romanesque cathedral dating from 1150 to 1200. Its three-aisled interior is shaped like a Latin cross and contains Baroque altars. The church also houses Paolo Finoglio’s painting “Tobiolo e l’angelo”, which is associated with the Caravaggesque school.

The church and monastery of the Frati Cappuccini were built in 1628; the church was consecrated in 1658. The Capuchin church preserves a monumental carved and inlaid wooden altar made by local craftsmen in the 18th century, as well as a 17th-century painting entitled “Il perdono di Assisi”. The Chiesa di Sant’Antonio da Padova also forms part of Alessano’s historic character: it was built between the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century.

Palaces Between the Renaissance and the History of Rulers

Several palaces complete the townscape. The merchant Donato Legari, who came from Tricase, commissioned the Palazzo Legari in 1536 in the Renaissance style. Its round-arched portal and the round-arched windows on the ground floor give the building distinctive architectural details. The Palazzo Ducale was built towards the end of the 15th century under the rule of the feudal lords Del Balzo. During the rule of the Gonzaga, it was an important cultural centre; at the same time, it is a fortified building with elegant decorative elements.

The Palazzo Sangiovanni is a Renaissance building constructed towards the end of the 15th century during the rule of the Del Balzo. Its façade features diamond-point rustication arranged in a zigzag pattern.

Macurano, Olive Oil Heritage and Local Traditions

Macurano is a rock settlement on the route connecting Alessano and Marina di Novaglie. Because of its two oil mills, trappeto Sauli and trappeto Santa Lucia, which are still in use, Macurano is regarded as a symbol of olive oil heritage. In Montesardo, the traditional “Sagra de lu porcu pri pri” is considered a valuable part of the local community’s cultural and social heritage.

Pilgrimage Routes Associated with Don Tonino Bello

Pilgrimage routes starting from Alessano are connected with Don Tonino Bello’s birthplace and the cemetery where his remains lie. Part of the Capuchin monastery is dedicated to the Casa Francescana di spiritualità, which is devoted to Don Tonino Bello. Don Tonino Bello was born in Alessano on 18 March 1935.

Other Places for Orientation

Serrano, Sogliano Cavour, Marina Di Novaglie, Rosa Marina, Galugnano, Minervino Di Lecce, Aradeo and Galatone

For the higher-level travel overview: Lecce.