Discover Vitigliano: Cisternale, Museums and Hiking Route

Vitigliano between Local History and Hiking Route

Vitigliano is a small hamlet of Santa Cesarea Terme. Vitigliano combines an underground structure, palazzi, religious traditions and a regional hiking route.

The Cisternale on the Edge of the Built-Up Area

At the edge of Vitigliano’s present-day built-up area lies the Cisternale, an underground structure interpreted as a cistern. The structure is rectangular and hewn into the underlying rock. It measures 12.30 metres in length, 3.05 metres in width and approximately 4.40 metres in depth. Its capacity is 162,000 litres. This makes the Cisternale one of the unusual local features that characterise Vitigliano beyond its visible buildings.

Museums in Palazzo Gargasole

Palazzo Gargasole is located in Vitigliano and has housed the Museo degli orologi delle torri civiche since 2008. The museum contains three clocks from Santa Cesarea and its hamlets. They remained in operation until the 1990s, before being replaced by more modern mechanisms. Palazzo Gargasole also houses the Museo dei fossili.

Palazzo Ciullo and the Adjacent Chapel

In the centre of Vitigliano stands Palazzo Ciullo, a historic building dating from the second half of the 17th century. The palazzo extends over two floors around an inner courtyard and has a balcony made of Lecce stone. The adjacent chapel is dedicated to the Immaculate Madonna and contains a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. For visitors interested in culture, this offers a concentrated view of architectural forms, materials and religious artefacts directly connected with the townscape.

Church, Patron Saints and Feast Day

The parish church of Vitigliano is dedicated to the Archangel Michael, San Michele Arcangelo. The town’s patron saints are considered to be the Vergine Assunta and San Rocco. Their statues are displayed in the parish church in the second half of August. At the end of the patronal feast, the statue of San Rocco is returned to its chapel. In connection with this, a special fireworks display takes place, known in the local dialect as „VAI E VEI“ and attracting numerous curious tourists. This tradition gives a stay a distinctly seasonal cultural accent.

Hiking through Olive Groves and Pine Forests

A regional hiking route leads to Vitigliano, where the church of San Michele Arcangelo is designated as a station open to visitors. Along a straight section, the route runs through olive groves and pine forests to Vitigliano. The stage that includes the town is listed as 21.9 kilometres long, with a mix of unpaved paths and asphalt, and a duration of 6 hours. If, in addition to cultural impressions, you would like to plan an extended walk, this stage leads to Vitigliano and through olive groves and pine forests.

More Destinations

Sogliano Cavour, Collepasso, Torre Pali, Torre Mozza, Cannole, Posto Rosso, Otranto, Marina Di Novaglie

For the overarching travel overview: Lecce.