Discover Cursi – holiday apartment in Cursi amid stone and culture

Cursi combines the history of Pietra Leccese with underground spaces, sacred architecture and gentle walks. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Cursi will find a destination whose special features can be explored through stone, culture and landscape. Many of the most distinctive experiences begin at Palazzo De Donno or lead into the quarrying area between Cursi and Melpignano.

Stone, underground spaces and exhibitions

The Ecomuseo della Pietra Leccese e delle Cave is located in the underground Frantoio of Palazzo De Donno on Piazza Pio XII. The exhibition “Stone Stories. Le pietre di Puglia nell’architettura, nel design, nel paesaggio.” is currently among the exhibitions open to visitors there.

The 18th-century underground olive mill of Palazzo De Donno also houses the permanent exhibition “Oggetti della Memoria”. The “Scalpellino per un giorno” workshop on working with Pietra Leccese is also held in the same underground Frantoio. In Cursi, you can therefore encounter both exhibitions and a hands-on exploration of the material that has visibly shaped the surrounding area.

The Parco delle Cave between nature and industrial archaeology

The Parco delle Cave is located in the Serpentane area, at the heart of the Pietra Leccese quarrying zone between Cursi and Melpignano. The park combines disused quarries reclaimed by nature with quarries that are still active and evidence of industrial archaeology.

For orientation on site, it is important to know that the Parco delle Cave is freely and free of charge accessible and is not fenced. The different conditions of the quarries make this an illustrative destination for anyone who wishes to view the landscape not merely as a backdrop, but also as the result of human labor.

Gentle walks and a tour starting at Palazzo De Donno

The “Parco delle Cave” walk is an easy, 90-minute excursion starting at Palazzo De Donno in Cursi. The “Contemporaneo” route also begins there and is an easy, 90-minute walk focusing on urban art. The two walks of equal length therefore offer different focuses: one leads into the world of the quarries, while the other is dedicated to urban art.

The “Ciclopasseggiata tra Cursi, Melpignano e Castrignano de’ Greci” also begins at Palazzo De Donno in Cursi. Together with the two 90-minute walks, it offers various ways to plan the focus of a day. You can choose between landscape and industrial archaeology, urban art, or a route connecting Cursi with Melpignano and Castrignano de’ Greci.

Churches, festivals and historical traces

The Santuario della Madonna dell’Abbondanza has a floor plan in the shape of a Greek cross. A round drum and a dome crown the building. The feast of Madonna dell’Abbondanza is celebrated every year on the second Sunday in July, connecting the sacred site with a date firmly anchored in the annual calendar.

The Cripta di Santo Stefano is also one of Cursi’s notable cultural landmarks. In April 1957, scholars classified it as one of the most interesting Basilian crypts in the Province of Lecce. The Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Nicola Vescovo features the apse of the mother church dating from the 16th century, a dome and a bell tower. Inside, the old apse is artistically carved and decorated with representations.

A holiday apartment in Cursi to suit your interests

When choosing a holiday apartment in Cursi, you can focus on the themes that are to shape your stay. The Ecomuseo, the underground exhibitions and the workshop provide a cultural focus. The Parco delle Cave and the “Parco delle Cave” walk place open landscapes and quarries at the forefront, while “Contemporaneo” focuses on urban art. This makes it possible to choose accommodation in Cursi according to the desired mix of culture, landscape and activity, without having to combine the individual experiences into a single route.

Discover more places

For additional travel ideas, you can also include Fontanelle, Squinzano, Specchia, Leverano, Rivabella, Borgagne, Cerfignano and Tiggiano in your plans.

For the broader travel overview: Lecce.