Scorrano between Light Art, Churches and Landscape

Scorrano between Light Art and Landscape

Scorrano combines religiously influenced festival culture, historic architecture and rural landscape. Churches, palaces, light art and the Parco dei Paduli offer different ways of experiencing the town.

Festivals and Light Art

The Festa di Santa Domenica is Scorrano’s patronal festival and traditionally takes place from 5 July to 8 July. Scorrano’s illuminations art developed in connection with the cult of Santa Domenica and originated on the occasion of her festival as an expression of devotion through light. Another annual event is the Fiera di Santa Lucia, which takes place every year on 13 December in Scorrano. It includes a tasting of Pittule di Natale in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele.

Historic Town Centre

Scorrano’s original town centre has preserved its historic structure, unlike the newer district. Porta Terra is the only surviving evidence of the old town wall that protected the medieval town of Scorrano. Palazzo Frisari stands in the heart of Scorrano on the site where the town’s old castle once stood.

Churches and Monastic Buildings

The Chiesa madre di Santa Domenica is located within Scorrano’s former town walls, between Palazzo Frisari and the Chiesa della Purificazione. Its present structure combines architectural elements from the 16th and 17th centuries. The interior is Baroque and has a Latin-cross floor plan with three naves and several altars. During the major July celebrations, a reliquary canopy with the statue of Santa Domenica is carried there in a procession.

The Chiesa della Madonna di Costantinopoli is located in the Costantinopoli district on Via vicinale Silva. It has a centralised plan, a single-nave, barrel-vaulted interior and a pointed bell gable with an opening. The Convento di San Francesco d’Assisi (also known as the Convento degli Agostiniani) is a two-storey square building arranged around a cloister surrounded by arcades, with the church on the eastern side. The Chiesa del Convento di San Francesco d’Assisi (also known as the Chiesa degli Agostiniani) dates from the 17th century. During the Christmas season, the Presepe di Sabbia is displayed in the cloister.

Historic Traces and Local Character

A letter dated 23 July 1549 by Luca Contile, a historian and diplomat in the retinue of Princess Isabella di Capua, records that wooden arcades were used in Scorrano to decorate the town in honour of the illustrious guest. The location of the Museo delle Luminarie di Puglia was established in the former Asilo di Mendicità, Palazzo Veris, in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II in Scorrano.

Landscape of the Parco dei Paduli

In the countryside of Scorrano stands the menhir La Cupa 1 among centuries-old olive trees. Scorrano is one of the municipalities included in the area of the agricultural park Parco dei Paduli. In the wider regional surroundings of Scorrano, the landscape of the Parco dei Paduli combines centuries-old olive trees, dry-stone walls and a network of paths.

Scorrano as a Travel Destination

For your travel planning, you can choose between different focuses, including festival culture, architectural history and landscape. If you stay overnight in Scorrano, you can tailor your visit to whichever focus interests you most.

More Travel Destinations

For further travel planning, you can find additional destinations here: Pacci, Sternatia, Capilungo, Nociglia, Marina San Gregorio, Posto Rosso, Torre Saracena, Ortelle.

To the higher-level travel overview: Lecce.