Matino: Old Town, Church Art and Wine

Matino between Old Town, Art and Wine

When getting to know Matino, start your orientation in the historic centre. It has preserved its distinctive features almost unchanged: narrow, winding lanes, streets adorned with votive niches, courtyards with traditional wash basins and palazzi with elaborately decorated corbelled balconies give the townscape its historic contours. This makes Matino suitable for a trip in which you can combine architecture, art and local history.

Palazzi and Contemporary Art

The Palazzo dei Marchesi del Tufo was built towards the end of the 12th century as a Norman fortification belonging to the De Persona family. Stables decorated with frescoes bear witness to the Del Tufo family's passion for horses of noble breed. The MACMa offers a different focus: it is housed in the rooms of the Palazzo Marchesale in Matino's historic centre and displays an extensive collection of works of Visual Poetry. The MACMa also regularly organises exhibitions and conferences on contemporary artists.

Churches as Historical Documents

The Chiesa del Rosario combines several periods. Its main structure was built in the 16th century and thoroughly remodelled around 1750, giving it its characteristic Baroque appearance. Most of the paintings inside are attributed to Gian Domenico Catalano. The Chiesa del Carmine was built at the beginning of the 17th century after an icon of the Madonna was found in the countryside. Its sacristy contains a Pietà painting executed directly on the rock in 1621.

The Chiesa matrice di San Giorgio was built in the mid-18th century according to a design by Giuseppe Del Tufo, with financial support from the Marchesi, over the remains of an existing structure dating from the mid-16th century. Its interior has the layout of a Latin cross with a single nave, eight side altars in the main arm and two more in the transept.

The Chiesa della Pietà is characterised by narrow vaults entirely decorated with frescoes. Between 1620 and 1623, two families donated the land for its construction and covered the building costs. The large portico is now incorrectly known as the Arco della Pietà and was added around 1630.

Landscape and Local Wine Culture

The landscape around Matino is characterised by centuries-old olive trees and vineyards, reflecting the area's agricultural history. The Colle di Sant'Eleuterio lies two kilometres north of the centre. It can be reached by car or bicycle and offers views across the Salento landscape as far as the sea. Matino's enoteche offer selected local wines and guided tastings.

An Occasion in April

The Feast of San Giorgio Martire takes place every year in April around 23 April. When choosing your accommodation, you can use these cultural, scenic and culinary highlights as a guide for your stay in Matino.

Further Destinations for Planning Your Trip

Lecce, Torre Mozza, Marina Di Novaglie, Posto Rosso, Corsano, Fontanelle, Lucugnano and Ruggiano

For the higher-level travel overview: Lecce.