Felline
Exploring Felline: a small village with a rich history
Welcome to Felline, a hamlet located in Alliste, in the province of Lecce. With just over 1,400 inhabitants, this small urban center offers a journey back in time, spanning centuries of history. From the stories of the first settlers, to the history of the feudal system and the families that ruled it, to the secrets of the religious architecture: let's discover together what makes Felline so special.
Physical geography
Felline's territory is located in southern Salento, at an altitude of 45 meters above sea level. The village is only a few kilometers from Alliste and Posto Rosso, on the Ionian sea, and about 53 kilometers from the city of Lecce.
Toponym
The origin of Felline's name is not entirely clear. Some claim that it comes from the Latin term "figlinae," which means artisanal workshops for the production of ceramic. In fact, an ancient ceramic furnace has been found dating back to the 1st century BC, which supports this theory.
History
People have inhabited this land since prehistoric times, as evidenced by some menhirs, later developing as a suburb of the nearby Messapian city of Ugento, thanks to the presence of clay material suitable for the production of ceramics. Christianity also left its mark, with traces of Byzantine influences. However, despite all this, not all periods have been easy for Felline. It has suffered several invasions, from the raids of the Saracens to the Republic of Venice in 1480, risking disappearing forever. Only with the construction of the "Torre Sinfonò" in the sixteenth century, did it obtain a greater defense against enemies. The following period saw the rise of several noble families, including the Bonsecolo and De Noha in the fourteenth century, Tolomei, Cappello, Pignatelli, Acquaviva, and d'Amore. Finally, the last rulers of the fief were the Oliva and later the Scategni, until the feudal abolition of 1806.
Monuments and places of interest
Religious architecture
Felline has a great religious tradition that can still be admired thanks to precious places of worship that are worth visiting.
= Madonna dell'Alto Abbey Church =
One of the most important and evocative churches in Felline is the Madonna dell'Alto Abbey church, built by Basilian monks around the tenth century. It has a simple facade, although the interior, measuring 7.10 by 16.60 meters, is a single nave with a barrel vault. It still preserves some Byzantine-style frescoes dating back to past centuries, depicting important saints of Christianity. One of the most beautiful paintings inside the church is a Madonna with the Blessing Child from 1577. Moreover, in the region, the church is also known as the "cathedral of the Salento hills".
= Santa Sofia Apse =
Not far from the church of Alto, there are the ruins of Santa Sofia Apse, once part of a church built at the end of the fourteenth century. Although it is only a part of an old religious building, the Santa Sofia Apse does not disappoint history and architecture enthusiasts.
And this is just one example of the beauty that can be found in Felline. We invite you to visit this small village and discover other treasures that characterize this splendid land with such a surprising past.
