Holiday apartment in Casarano: culture and culinary delights in Salento

Casarano: sacred art, palazzi and Salento cuisine

Casarano combines impressive examples of sacred art with historic palaces, an underground history of labor and the distinctive cuisine of Salento. The sights range from an elevated church overlooking the town to frescoes, mosaics and buildings with unusual architectural details.

The Chiesa Madonna della Campana and Casaranello

The Chiesa Madonna della Campana stands on a hill about 160 meters high and offers views of Casarano and the surrounding countryside. According to tradition, it 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 and 11th centuries. The presbytery also contains mosaics from the 5th century.

Historic palazzi with distinctive façades

Palazzo De Judicibus was built in the 17th century; its present appearance is the result of 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 also includes a formal Italian-style garden.

Palazzo D’Aquino also dates from the 17th century and is now known as Palazzo De Lorenzi. It is also referred to as a “castello” and, with its 120-meter-long façade, is the largest palace in Casarano. Inside is a small chapel dedicated to Saint Anne.

Reminders of work, music and olive oil

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. The Archivio Sonoro contains a recording of “Santu Lazzaru” in the Casarano version. The underground olive mill Frantoio ipogeo De Luca 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.

Scurdijata and regional culinary traditions

At the Sagra ta Scurdijata in Casarano, you can sample Scurdijata and other typical Salento specialties at food stalls. Scurdijata is a peasant dish from the lower Salento made with stale bread, cooked vegetables, legumes, potatoes and olive oil.

Railway station and connections in Salento

Casarano’s central railway station mainly offers connections to nearby towns, including Lecce, Gallipoli and Galatina, the most important tourist destinations in Salento.

Other destinations for orientation: Capilungo, Rosa Marina, Rivabella, Marina Di Andrano, Fontanelle, Campi Salentina, Monteroni Di Lecce, Frigole.

For the overarching travel overview: Lecce.