Holiday apartment in Giuggianello: churches, crypt and garden

Holiday apartment in Giuggianello: churches, crypt and garden

Giuggianello combines sacred architectural history, rural culture and distinctive natural formations with other destinations in the surrounding area. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Giuggianello, you can plan your trip around churches and museums, a distinctive rock formation, rare plants and beaches. The different highlights make the location an interesting choice if you would like to combine culture and landscape.

Churches with their own distinct character

The Cripta di San Giovanni Battista is of Byzantine origin and dates from the 10th or 11th century. It is carved entirely out of limestone and has a three-aisled layout. The complex is eight metres wide and two metres high. Two central pillars, created during the excavation, separate the aisles. The combination of Byzantine origins, materials and an unusual layout makes the crypt a particularly vivid part of the local architectural history.

The Chiesa della Madonna Assunta dates from the 16th century and was extensively altered in 1782. Its rectangular, single-aisled interior features a star vault and several canvas paintings, including a depiction of the Nativity. The Chiesa madre di Sant'Antonio Abate was built in 1781 on the site of an older structure and has an unfinished façade made of Lecce stone. The two churches thus represent different historical periods and architectural forms.

Rural culture and living traditions

The Museo Civico of rural culture, also known as the Museo Demo-Etno-Antropologico, is housed in the Palazzo Lubelli at Via Roma 22 in Giuggianello (LE). The Ecomuseo MiMe Miti e Megaliti includes the communities of Giuggianello, Minervino di Lecce, Specchia Gallone and Cocumola. Together, these places provide access to local culture and to the connections between several communities.

On the night of 24 June, the Notte di San Giovanni continues to be celebrated around the Grotta di San Giovanni. The festival includes sharing food and folk dancing. The Furticiddhu te la vecchia rock is circular and lenticular, and stands on a broad base. Its characteristic mushroom shape, with a cap and stem, was formed by flowing water and weathering.

Botanical garden, rocks and beaches

The La Cutura Botanical Garden covers 35 hectares and houses one of the richest collections of rare succulent and tropical plants. The surrounding area of Giuggianello is also home to Palazzo Sticchi, the ancient site of Circolo Ippico Tumara, Castello di Castro and Castello di Otranto.

The beaches of Spiaggia di Porto Miggiano, Spiaggia degli Scaloni, Spiaggia della Riviera degli Haethei and Spiaggia di Porto Craulo o La Punta are also located nearby. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore weigh up whether churches and museums should be the cultural focus, or whether you would prefer to give greater consideration to the Botanical Garden, the distinctive rock formation and the beaches.

Discover more destinations

For more destinations, you can also discover Pacci, Casalabate, San Donato Di Lecce, Cavallino, Rosa Marina, Ugento, Collepasso and Porto Cesareo.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lecce.