Gagliano del Capo
Welcome to Gagliano del Capo!
Hello everyone! Today I will talk about Gagliano del Capo, a municipality with 4,863 inhabitants located in the province of Lecce in Puglia, at the southernmost tip of Salento. Also known as ''Gajànu'' in Salento dialect, it is part of the Union of Municipalities Terra di Leuca and was awarded the title of ''Authentic Villages of Italy'' in 2016.
Physical Geography
Territory
The village is located at an altitude of 144 m above sea level and extends to the coast, characterized by a high rocky inlet and some marine caves of considerable historical and landscape interest. Part of its territory is included in the regional natural park of Costa Otranto - Santa Maria di Leuca and Bosco di Tricase, established by Puglia to protect the eastern coast of Salento, rich in valuable architectural assets and important species, both animal and plant.
Climate
Gagliano del Capo has a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot and humid summers. The average temperature of the coldest month, January, is around +16.8 °C, while that of the warmest month, August, is around +28.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is about 321 mm, with a peak in autumn-winter.
Origins of the name
The name Gagliano del Capo derives from the figure of Gallius or Gaius, a Roman centurion who received this land after the Roman conquest of Salento.
History
Gagliano del Capo has a very ancient history, dating back to the Bronze Age, as demonstrated by the two menhirs present in Arigliano. A first urban center arose, however, after the destruction of the nearby hamlets of Plusano and Misciano in the 2nd century BC.
From 553 and until the 11th century, the village was under Byzantine influence, which also introduced the eastern religious rite, survived until the 17th century. For many centuries, numerous Gagliano lands were owned by the Otranto Abbey of San Nicola di Casole and cultivated by its vassals.
Culture and events
Gagliano del Capo boasts a rich and varied culture, testified by the Municipal Historical Archive, which collects documents from the 16th century, the Municipal Library ''Don Francesco Masci'', which hosts about 6,000 volumes, and the Museum of Peasant Civilization which preserves objects and tools of local peasant life.
Do not miss the opportunity to attend the Feast of San Rocco, the village's patron saint, which takes place at the end of August. The festival, which lasts for more than a week, provides processions, concerts, fireworks shows and local cuisine.
Places to visit
If you visit Gagliano del Capo, you cannot miss the Church of San Rocco, built in the 18th century, and the Church of the Madonna delle Grazie, from the 16th century. The caves of Ciolo are very suggestive, reaching up to the Tower of the Wolf, built in Aragonese times, and the Tower of the Serpe, built in the 17th century.
Finally, for trekking and walking enthusiasts, I recommend taking a hike along the coastal path that leads from Ciolo Bay to the Tower of the Wolf and the Green Cave, an unforgettable experience of nature and breathtaking landscape.
Conclusion
I have given you just a taste of the beauties of Gagliano del Capo, but I hope to have aroused your interest and curiosity in discovering this enchanting Puglian village. I can't wait to take you on a journey to discover this little gem of Salento, with its millennia-old cultures and traditions.
