Carovigno: Castello, Churches and Torre Guaceto

Carovigno can be explored through its notable buildings and Torre Guaceto.

Castello Dentice di Frasso and medieval traces

Castello Dentice di Frasso has a triangular layout. A square tower stands at its eastern tip, a round tower at the western tip and an almond-shaped tower at the northern tip. From the towers, the view extends over the coastal strip from Torre Canne to Brindisi. The first core of Castello Dentice di Frasso is probably of Norman origin and is identified with the square tower next to Porta Ostuni.

Churches, crypts and sacred art

The Chiesa Matrice is believed to have originated in the 14th century, as an “Ecclesian Sancte Marie” is mentioned in the inventory of Raimondo del Balzo Orsini from 1396. Of its Renaissance structure, an apse with ten niches in the east and a rose window in the west have been preserved.

The Santuario Maria Santissima di Belvedere consists of a church and a natural cave divided into two crypts. The two areas are connected by a staircase with 47 steps. In the upper crypt there is an aedicule dated 1501, commissioned by the feudal lords Loffreda of Carovigno.

Further buildings span different eras. Castello di Serranova was built in 1629 by Ottavio Serra and stands on an older core dating from 1350. It has a square tower with a slight batter and a row of machicolations running along the edge of the terrace. The main altar of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta features an 18th-century painting of the Last Supper in the style of Solimena. Porta Brindisi consists of two successive gates: an inner gate from the Angevin period and a Renaissance gate from the feudal era of the Loffredo family. The Chiesa di Sant'Anna was built between the 17th and 18th centuries by the Imperiali family near the castle as a private chapel for the feudal lords.

Four towers from Carovigno's medieval walls are still visible: Torre del Civile, Torre Giranda, Torre delli Brandi and Torre del Prete.

Torre Guaceto on the Adriatic Coast

The Torre Guaceto State Nature Reserve is located on the Adriatic coast of northern Salento within the municipality of Carovigno. It includes a freshwater wetland, Mediterranean maquis, a strip of dunes up to 10 metres high and the seabed close to the coast. If you are driving to the coastal area, the nature reserve can be reached via the SS 379 and the Torre Guaceto–Punta Penna Grossa or Apani exits.

Nzegna in Carovigno

Carovigno is associated with the annual Nzegna flag-waving tradition in honour of the Virgin Mary Santissima di Belvedere: it is performed on Easter Monday in Largo Machiavelli and on Easter Tuesday in Piazza Municipio. During the Nzegna-Battitura, two flag bearers perform to old music reminiscent of the syncopated rhythm of the Salento pizzica, waving and tossing a multicoloured flag into the air.

More destinations for planning your trip

Afterwards, you can also include Francavilla Fontana, Lido Specchiolla, Ceglie Messapica, Pezze Di Greco, Ostuni, Oria, Mesagne and San Michele Salentino in your plans.

For the overarching travel overview: Brindisi.