Corigliano d’Otranto: Castle, Griko and Local Culture

Corigliano d’Otranto is part of Grecìa Salentina. Griko, an ancient language of Greek origin, is spoken in Corigliano d’Otranto. The townscape includes the medieval Castello de’ Monti, churches and Palazzo Comi. In addition to its buildings, the local food culture is represented by its own products. The megalithic remains of the Dolmen Caroppo I and Caroppo II are located outside the built-up area.

Castle, City Gates and Churches

At the entrance to the historic centre stands the medieval Castello de’ Monti, with its richly decorated main façade. It is considered a particularly outstanding example of feudal and military architecture. Caporta, the southern gate of Corigliano d’Otranto, is located immediately beside the castle. The gate is crowned by the town coat of arms and the coat of arms of Giovan Battista de’ Monti.

The Chiesa madre di San Nicola Vescovo was built in the second half of the 16th century on the foundations of an earlier chapel and remodelled in 1622. Its bell tower dates from 1465 and originally served as a watchtower within the medieval town walls. The bell tower is therefore older than the present church. The Torre dell’orologio was rebuilt in 1644 and modified in 1770.

Palazzo Comi contains a fragment of a Greek inscription. It is considered one of the few surviving testimonies to the Byzantine past of Corigliano d’Otranto. The palazzo itself is an important example of 18th-century civil architecture. The present-day Chiesa della Madonna delle Grazie dates from the first half of the 17th century and preserves a Byzantine fresco of the Madonna di Costantinopoli from an older church of the same name.

Griko and Local Specialities

The town’s linguistic peculiarity can also be encountered at its main sights: for example, there are information panels where Griko is explained in Italian, English and Griko. The local food culture includes Popaneddha, a sweet cucumber that is usually eaten in summer as a fruit or as an ingredient in fresh salads. Tartufo bianco di Corigliano is a local product that you can try. At the sights, linguistic information thus accompanies specific products of the local cuisine.

Megalithic Traces and Events

The megalithic remains of the Dolmen Caroppo I and Caroppo II are located outside the built-up area of Corigliano d’Otranto; this also includes Dolmen Caroppo I. In the rooms of Castello de’ Monti, the Il Castello Volante project organises workshops and multidisciplinary events. For those interested in culture, the difference between the sites lies not only in their period, but also in their location: the dolmens are outside the built-up area, while the castle stands at the entrance to the historic centre.

Torre Chianca, Melendugno, San Pietro In Lama, Gemini, Castrignano De' Greci, Santa Caterina, Carmiano, Uggiano La Chiesa

For the higher-level travel overview: Lecce.