Casarano: Sacred Art, Palazzi and Salento Cuisine

Casarano combines impressive sacred art, historic palazzi and the wholesome cuisine of Salento. Those interested in different eras and local traditions will find several distinct themes to consider when planning their trip – from Byzantine frescoes to a peasant dish from the region.

Sacred places with a special history

The Chiesa Madonna della Campana stands on a hill about 160 metres high and offers views over Casarano and the surrounding landscape. According to tradition, the church was built as a votive offering by a sailor whose life the Madonna had saved, according to this tradition. Inside is a fresco of the Trinity with the Virgin Mary, Saint John the Baptist, and a host of saints and believers. The work is signed “frate Honofrio 1679”.

Casaranello preserves a cycle of Byzantine frescoes that is still visible today and was created during a second phase of construction and decoration in the 10th to 11th century. The presbytery also contains mosaics from the 5th century. This makes it possible to compare different layers of religious art in Casarano: early mosaics, medieval frescoes and the later decoration of the Chiesa Madonna della Campana.

Palazzi, façades and hidden rooms

The Palazzo De Judicibus was built in the 17th century; its present appearance dates from extensive alterations in the 18th century. Particularly striking is the Baroque portal with volutes, crowned by a loggia with two heart-shaped windows. The palazzo includes a formal Italian-style garden.

The Palazzo D’Aquino also dates from the 17th century and is now known as Palazzo De Lorenzi. The Palazzo D’Aquino bears the designation “castello” and, with its 120-metre-long façade, is Casarano’s largest palace. Inside is a small chapel dedicated to Saint Anne. For visitors who want to view architecture not only through façades but also through the history of names, interiors and gardens, this palazzo complements the impressions offered by Palazzo De Judicibus.

Memories of work and everyday life

The Museo del Minatore contains documents, eyewitness accounts, work tools and memorabilia collected by Lucio Parrotto since the second half of the 1940s. Parrotto was a former miner from Casarano who worked in Belgium. Another form of cultural memory is preserved by the Archivio Sonoro: it contains a recording of “Santu Lazzaru” in the Casarano version.

The underground oil mill Frantoio ipogeo De Luca also reveals an important aspect of the region’s material culture. It consists of two independent rooms. The room on the left, with bases for Calabrian presses, dates from the 16th century, while the front room dates from the 18th century.

Salento cuisine in Casarano

At the Sagra ta Scurdijata, you can try Scurdijata and other typical Salento specialities at food stalls. Scurdijata is a peasant dish from the lower Salento and is prepared with stale bread, cooked vegetables, pulses, potatoes and olive oil. When choosing a hotel or other accommodation in Casarano, these cultural and culinary highlights can provide helpful guidance if you plan your trip around your interests rather than a single excursion destination.

Getting there and further destinations

Casarano’s central railway station mainly provides connections to nearby cities, including Lecce, Gallipoli and Galatina, the most important tourist destinations in Salento. For your travel planning, this combines cultural exploration of Casarano with the opportunity to include these places as well, without reducing the character of the town to a single theme.

Further destinations for your travel planning

For further options in Salento, you can also find Gagliano Del Capo, San Cassiano, Ortelle, Arnesano, Sant'isidoro, Ruggiano, Porto Cesareo and Marina Serra.

To the higher-level travel overview: Lecce.