Discover Giurdignano: Megalithic Culture and Holiday Apartments

Giurdignano is a worthwhile destination if you would like to combine a trip with special cultural discoveries. The area is widely scattered with dolmens and menhirs and has been recognised as the “Megalithic Garden of Italy”. Amid impressive stone structures, underground places of worship and historic buildings, the town presents a diverse character. This allows you to vary your days between prehistoric remains, architecture, religious art and local traditions.

Dolmens, Menhirs and the Megalithic Way

The municipal “Megalithic Way” leads through the countryside to the underground Trappitello del Duca oil mill. There are around eight dolmens in Giurdignano; night tours as well as tours by bicycle and carriage are also offered. The Grassi Dolmen consists of two opposing dolmens located about 140 centimetres apart. Only one of them is still intact.

Underground Spaces and Historic Buildings

The underground Frantoio Ipogeo Trappitello del Duca oil mill was built in the 16th century. The 3.50-metre-high San Vincenzo Menhir is a prominent landmark in the town centre. The Vico Nuovo 1 and 2 menhirs stand close together, are nearly identical and were moved to Piazzetta Vico Nuovo. The San Paolo Menhir is approximately 2.25 metres high and stands on a rocky outcrop into which the San Paolo Crypt was carved.

The Byzantine San Salvatore Crypt also combines architecture and visual art. It is carved out of the rock and has three naves, four pillars and three apses. Remnants of frescoes have been preserved; the fresco in the central apse depicts the Madonna with two angels. At sunset, sunlight enters the crypt and illuminates its central altar. The Chiesa Madre complements this spectrum with a building constructed between 1756 and 1763. Its floor plan has the shape of a Latin cross with a single nave. It also features Baroque stucco and furnishings, a finely crafted main altar made of Lecce stone and an extensive collection of paintings. Some paintings are attributed to Giandomenico Catalano, while the church also houses works by Oronzo Tiso and Saverio Lillo.

Traditions, Flavours and Vibrant Local Culture

Giurdignano also reveals its local character through festivals and culinary traditions. On 19 March, the Feast of Saint Joseph, the tradition of the Tavole di San Giuseppe is observed: meals dedicated to the saint are offered as a vow or a request for grace. The Festa di San Rocco includes brass band concerts. Together with experts, the Casa Borgia workshop introduces visitors to the history and characteristics of the truffle, its origins in the forests and its use in culinary combinations.

Another historic destination is the Church of CentoPorte. It was built between the 5th and 6th centuries and today survives only as a few ruins. Together with the Palazzo Baronale, it broadens the view of the town’s past: a new building section and a moat were added to the palazzo in the 17th century. Remains of a drawbridge indicate that the building was once surrounded by a moat.

Holiday Apartment in Giurdignano for Planning Your Trip

When choosing a holiday apartment in Giurdignano, you can tailor the focus of your trip to your own interests: the “Megalithic Way” and the dolmens are ideal for active days of discovery, while the crypts, Chiesa Madre and Palazzo Baronale shape cultural and historical sightseeing. Festivals, truffle-related experiences and the special light conditions in San Salvatore provide additional highlights. Accommodation in Giurdignano is therefore particularly interesting for travellers who do not want to limit their days to just one type of experience.

Discover More Places

If you would like to extend your travel plans beyond Giurdignano, you can also discover Sternatia, Gemini, Torre Mozza, Morciano Di Leuca, Cursi, Baia Verde, Torre Specchia Ruggeri and Gagliano Del Capo.

To the main travel overview: Lecce.