Cursi
Welcome to Cursi: The city of Salento
Cursi is an Italian city located in the province of Lecce, with a population of about 3,868 inhabitants. The city, located in the central part of the Salento peninsula, is famous mainly for the Lecce stone, a type of limestone that is extracted locally. In this article, we will talk about geography, climate, origin of the name and history of this wonderful city, inviting you to discover the treasures it hides.
Physical Geography
The municipal territory of Cursi extends over an area of and is located in the central part of the province of Lecce. The inhabited nucleus is located at , while the territory is included between 82 and , with an altimetric excursion of 15 meters. The city is located in a basin delimited by the Serra di Montevergine and rises on a vast limestone Marna (rock) formation, in an area rich in open-pit quarries from which Lecce stone is extracted.
The city borders to the north with the municipality of Castrignano de' Greci, to the east with the municipality of Bagnolo del Salento, to the south with the municipality of Maglie and to the west with the municipality of Melpignano.
Climate
Cursi falls within the territory of eastern Salento which has a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot and humid summers. According to the reference averages, the average temperature in the coldest month, January, is around , while that of the hottest month, August, is around . Precipitation is frequent in autumn and winter, and amounts to about of rain per year. Spring and summer are characterized by long periods of drought.
The municipalities of eastern Salento are strongly influenced by the wind, through cold currents of Balkan origin or warm currents of African origin.
Origin of the Name
The name of the city could derive from the name of the Roman centurion Marco Curzio, to whom the territory on which Curtium arose was assigned. Another theory holds that the place name derives from the Latin ''diarii cursores'' because in Roman times the center performed the function of courier station used to communicate and transmit military dispatches (the ''diarii cursores''). The station later retained the name ''Cursiomnium'' from which over time it followed the vulgar Cursori and finally Cursi.
History
The city of Cursi has a long history that dates back to Roman times when it functioned as a courier station used to communicate and transmit military dispatches. The city was also frequented during prehistoric times, as evidenced by the remains of the menhir, "Croce di Bagnolo" and "Croce delle Tagliate," which are still present in the area today.
In 1807, together with Sogliano Cavour, Cutrofiano, Cannole and the current municipalities of Grecìa Salentina, Cursi was part of the Greek linguistic minority of Italy (τα Δεκατρία Χωρία), that is, the thirteen countries of the Terra d'Otranto that preserved the Greek language and traditions.
Like many other cities in Salento, Cursi was dominated by various peoples, including the Byzantines, Normans, and Bourbons.
Conclusions
Cursi is a city that offers several tourism opportunities. Thanks to its central location, it is easy to reach and is close to neighboring towns such as Maglie, Melpignano, Castrignano de' Greci, and Bagnolo del Salento, each of which has something unique to offer. Cursi is also famous for Lecce stone, which offers many artistic and commercial job opportunities.
In conclusion, if you are visiting Salento, Cursi is definitely worth a visit. Come and discover the charm of this city and its millenary history, full of passion and beauty.
