Holiday apartment in Depressa: history, wine and special places

Depressa combines historic buildings with underground local landmarks, a hillside setting, wine tradition and a festival on Piazza Castello. For culture enthusiasts, the range extends from Castello di Depressa to the Grotta dei Municeddhri and the historic Castel di Salve winery. The sites range from the square and historic buildings to a street and underground spaces.

Historical traces at Castello di Depressa

The oldest core of Castello di Depressa dates back to the 14th century. The basement houses a museum documenting the history of the Winspeare family, as well as their ancestors, costumes and traditions. The same building therefore brings together early local history and family traditions.

Palazzo Winspeare is another historic building in the town. It was recently restored and can be seen from Piazza Castello in Depressa.

Calvario and Cupola di Simone Murat

Calvario di Depressa was built in 1885. On 15 April 1973, it was restored with five sculptural ceramic panels. The year 1885 links the construction of the Calvario with the founding of Castel di Salve.

The Cupola di Simone Murat was built by the French oenologist Simone Murat as a place to rest after work. It is designed in the Neoclassical style and made entirely of Lecce stone. At the Calvario, five sculptural ceramic panels are part of the restoration, while the cupola is characterised by its Neoclassical style and its construction entirely from Lecce stone.

Underground oil mill and Messapian structures

Another historical trace lies underground. The Grotta dei Municeddhri is an ancient underground oil mill, probably built around 1400. Olives were fed directly onto a millstone through an opening in the ceiling to produce oil. The production process was therefore closely tied to the mill’s underground location.

Largo dei Pozzi Messapici comprises 15 small, well-like structures that provide access to underground cavities. The two underground sites represent different forms of local history: the Grotta concerns oil production, while the Largo concerns access to cavities.

Hillside setting, wine and Piazza Castello

Depressa lies on the slopes of the Serre di Andrano and Castiglione. The Croce di Principano is located on the left side of the road from Depressa to Castiglione, a hamlet of Andrano, in the fief known as “di Principano”.

Castel di Salve is a historic winery in Depressa. Antonio Winspeare founded it in 1885; today it is run by the fourth and fifth generations of the Winspeare family. Alongside architectural and underground history, the winery represents a wine tradition maintained over generations.

The Festa della “Simeddha” was held in its third edition on 19 July 2025 in Piazza Castello in Depressa. Palazzo Winspeare can also be seen from the same piazza.

For further orientation in the area: Acquarica Del Capo, Acaia, Tricase, Cocumola, Taurisano, San Cassiano, Porto Badisco and Leverano.

For the broader travel overview: Lecce.