Corigliano d'Otranto
Welcome to Corigliano d'Otranto, the municipality of the Greek Salento!
Corigliano d'Otranto is a municipality in the province of Lecce in Puglia, located in Salento. It is a unique place where the Greek dialect, an ancient language of Greek origin, is spoken. In this article, I will take you on a journey to discover the beauty of this municipality and its origins.
Physical geography
The municipality of Corigliano d'Otranto covers an area of 28.06 km² and is completely flat. The territory is between 73 and 109 m above sea level. The terrain is limestone, and the Coriglianese countryside is mainly dedicated to the cultivation of olive groves. There are no surface waterways, but there are cisterns and wells in the area that serve to address this water shortage. Corigliano d'Otranto borders with other municipalities such as Soleto, Zollino, Martano, Castrignano de 'Greci, Melpignano, Maglie, Cutrofiano, Sogliano Cavour, and Galatina.
The municipality is located in Zone 4, with very low seismicity.
Climate
From a meteorological point of view, Corigliano d'Otranto has a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot and humid summers. The average temperature of the coldest month, January, is about 9 °C, while that of the hottest month, August, is around 25.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is about 676 mm, with a peak in autumn-winter.
Origin of the name
The name of the town derives from the Latin forms ''fundus Corelianus'' or ''praedium Corellianum''. Today, the ending in Italian is ''-ano'', respectively the Salentine Dialect ''-anu''. However, in the Greek dialect, there is no other suffix than ''-àna'' (see the Salento Greek names ''Cutrofiano,'' ''Sogliano Cavour,'' ''Ruffano,'' ''Squinzano,'' and ''Scorrano'').
History and Culture
Greek origins
Corigliano d'Otranto is one of the nine municipalities of Greek Salento, a linguistic island where the Greek dialect is spoken. The presence of human settlements in the area dates back to the Neolithic period, but it was the Greeks who founded the city of Maries, of which only ruins remain. With Roman domination, the area became an important agricultural center.
The historic center
The historic center of Corigliano d'Otranto is characterized by typical courtyard houses that still preserve the ancient crafts of local craftsmanship. The historic buildings represent the testimony of the history of the municipality and testify to the Baroque architectural style, with portals in Lecce stone and wrought-iron balconies.
Gastronomy
The cuisine of Corigliano d'Otranto is based on the peasant tradition of the territory, with a wide variety of dishes. Among the typical dishes are "pittule," "puccia," "pezzetti," "salciccia di Cavallo," homemade orecchiette pasta dressed with meat or local vegetable sauce, "u puoj de Lesi" (rabbit stew), and arancini rice balls. All accompanied by excellent local wine.
Festivals
Corigliano d'Otranto is famous for its religious and traditional festivals. Among the main ones are the festival of San Giuseppe, the festival of San Vito Martire, the festival of Santa Maria delle Grazie, and the festival of Madonna del Monte Carmelo. The festivals are characterized by religious celebrations, processions, and various cultural events.
Conclusions
Corigliano d'Otranto is a unique municipality that leaves you speechless for the beauty of its landscapes and the richness of its history and tradition. This municipality has something to offer every type of tourist, from natural beauty to historical sites to gastronomy. Come and visit Corigliano d'Otranto and discover its wonders!
