Cutrofiano
Welcome to Cutrofiano: a short introduction to the town
Welcome to Cutrofiano, a town in Apulia located in the province of Lecce in central-southern Salento. With a population of 8679 residents, Cutrofiano is a small town that covers a territory of 55.72 km², with an altitude ranging from 65 to 119 meters above sea level.
The town borders with the municipalities of Sogliano Cavour and Galatina in the north, Corigliano d'Otranto, Maglie, Melpignano and Scorrano in the east, Supersano and Collepasso in the south, and Aradeo and Neviano in the west. The Cutrofiano area is classified as "zone 4" with very low seismicity.
The physical geography of Cutrofiano
The territory
The territory of Cutrofiano extends to the central part of the Lecce province, approximately 32 km south of Lecce. The town is situated at an altitude of 81 meters above sea level, with an elevation of 54 meters.
The climate
Cutrofiano has a predominantly Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot and humid summers. The average temperature in January is around 5°C, while that of August is around 30°C. The average annual precipitation, which stands at around 676 mm, has a minimum in spring-summer and a peak in autumn-winter.
Origin of the name Cutrofiano
The name of Cutrofiano has an ancient origin and has its roots in both Latin and Osco languages. It is believed that the name derives from the Greco-Latin personal name "Oecotrophius" or Osco "Octufrius". Toponymy also reports a derivation linked to the ancient production of clay objects, the "cutrubbi", typical clay containers (from the Greek "khytra"), hence Cutrubbiano and then Cutrofiano.
History of Cutrofiano
Cutrofiano, along with other medieval hamlets in Salento, was destroyed by the Turks during the 15th and 16th centuries. However, Cutrofiano managed to resist and survive thanks to its proximity to the ancient marsh.
The presence of clay and marsh favored the growth of activities related to the ceramics industry, already in ancient times, as evidenced by the discovery of a Roman-era furnace in the locality of "Scacciato" and the numerous ceramic products exhibited in the Civic Museum.
Conclusions
Cutrofiano is a town in central-southern Salento that can boast an ancient history and a strong tradition linked to the ceramics industry. Despite its small size, Cutrofiano offers many naturalistic and historical beauties, such as its proximity to the ancient marsh and the numerous ceramic products exhibited in the Civic Museum. If you are looking for a destination outside the traditional tourist circuits, Cutrofiano is the right place for you.
