Copertino Between the Renaissance, Sacred Buildings and Wine

Copertino Between Fortress and Sacred Art

Copertino combines an impressive architectural history with spiritually oriented sites and a distinctive culinary identity. The Castello di Copertino is a typical Renaissance fortress, built around 1540 incorporating older structures. These older elements include a freestanding 13th-century tower. The fortress was probably built according to a design by the architect Evangelista Menga. Its San Marco chapel contains frescoes painted by Gianserio Strafella in 1568.

The churches of Copertino also tell the story of different eras. Construction of the Chiesa Matrice began in 1088 and was completed in 1235. Its square tower is 35 metres high and divided into two sections. Inside the church, you can also see Strafella’s 16th-century “Deposizione”. The Collegiata di Santa Maria ad Nives contains the baptismal font at which San Giuseppe da Copertino was baptised.

Grottella, San Giuseppe and the Older Settlement History

The Santuario della Grottella brings together several historical and religious layers. The present-day church was built in 1577 as a single-nave building with three altars on each side. Its nave has eight arches containing Baroque altars and valuable paintings. The artworks include a 17th-century painting depicting Saint Anthony of Padua, attributed to Antonio Donato D'Orlando. Construction of the monastery at the Santuario began in 1618.

San Giuseppe da Copertino is also associated with the Santuario e della Stalletta di San Giuseppe da Copertino. Construction began in 1754, one year after the saint’s beatification, based on a design by Adriano Preite, who came from Copertino. The history of the Monastero e Chiesa di S. Chiara dates back to 1545; Alfonso Castriota commissioned the building.

The rural settlement associated with the Chiesa di Casole was established before the year 1000. At the beginning of the 16th century, it was repopulated around the Santa Maria di Casole monastery. Byzantine monks contributed to the development of this village associated with the Chiesa di Casole. The history of the place therefore extends beyond the Renaissance and also encompasses older forms of religiously influenced settlement.

Walking Tour, Getting There and Local Specialities

Copertino has a tourist walking tour dedicated to the town and its saint. It focuses on spiritually oriented sites and the town’s architectural monuments. Specialised guides and/or tourist escorts from CTG are available for tourist walking tours; information and reservations are handled through CTG Albatur. Copertino also has a railway station on the Novoli–Gagliano del Capo line operated by Ferrovie del Sud Est.

Another distinctive feature is the underground oil mills. They were created outside the city walls in areas with hard, sandy limestone and are considered freely accessible sites within the municipal area. The connection with agriculture is also reflected in local production: Copertino is an olive-oil production area and is associated with numerous wineries that have made its red wine well known.

More Destinations for Your Travel Planning

For further travel planning, you can also find Ruggiano, Santa Cesarea Terme, Martano, Marina Di Ugento, Specchia, Tricase Porto, Supersano and San Foca.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lecce.