Ruffano
Welcome to Ruffano, at the heart of lower Salento!
Let me introduce you to Ruffano, a municipality in the province of Lecce, Puglia, Italy. With its 9,455 inhabitants, Ruffano is situated at the center of lower Salento and covers an area of 38.82 km². The inhabited center is located 127 meters above sea level on the modest hills of the Salento mountains, which characterize most of the municipal territory. The Serra di Ruffano, rich in typical Mediterranean vegetation, houses numerous caves and natural rocky outcrops, some of which have been inhabited since the Paleolithic era and converted into Christian places of worship by the Basiliani.
Ruffano's physical geography
The territory of the municipality of Ruffano borders to the north with the municipalities of Casarano and Supersano, to the east with the municipalities of Montesano Salentino and Miggiano, to the southeast with the municipality of Specchia, to the south with the municipality of Presicce-Acquarica, to the southwest with the municipality of Taurisano, and to the west with the municipality of Ugento. The territory ranges from 96 to 179 m above sea level and the seismic classification is zone 4 (very low seismicity), as established by the PCM Ordinance no. 3274 of 20/03/2003.
Ruffano's climate
From a meteorological point of view, Ruffano has a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot, humid summers. The average temperature of the coldest month, January, is around +10.2 °C, while that of the hottest month, August, is around +36.8 °C. The average annual rainfall, which is around 94 mm, has a minimum in spring-summer and a peak in autumn-winter. The municipalities of lower Salento are weakly affected by western currents thanks to the protection provided by the Salento mountains, which create a shield system. On the contrary, autumn and winter currents from the southeast partially favor the increase of precipitation during this period, compared to the rest of the peninsula.
Ruffano's history
Certain information about the origin of the first village can be traced back to the fall of the Western Roman Empire, when the Land of Otranto had to undergo a long period of wars and destructions from the 5th century to the 11th century at the hands of the different peoples who took turns in the Salento Peninsula (Barbarians, Saracens, etc.). This state of subjugation and discomfort also lasted under the Principality of Taranto, to which Ruffano belonged until 1463. It then became a fief of the Ruffa, Colonna, Antoglietta, Falconi, Filomarino, Brancaccio (family), and finally Ferrante, which gave considerable luster and prestige to the city.
The hypotheses about the origins of the name are two: "... from a centurion named Ruffo who was allotted this land during the Roman occupation of Salento" or, according to the hypotheses supported by Bishop Giuseppe Ruotolo, from the Italic word "Rufus" or "Rubus" or, more likely, from the Latin word "Rubis", because this area was full of brambles or even fruits.
Conclusions
Ruffano is a municipality worth discovering, with its millenary history and its position in the heart of lower Salento. With its caves and natural rocky outcrops, it offers the opportunity to venture into naturalistic excursions and caving. The Mediterranean climate is perfect to enjoy the Salento beaches and savor the typical Apulian cuisine. Come and discover Ruffano, you will be surprised by the beauty of this municipality.
