SEGNI E RI SEGNI
International Scupture Symposium
"in Pietra Leccese" - Cannole 2001


Historical and Cultural Notes on Cannole


"Cannole, an area in the province of Otranto, situated on a hill where you can breathe fresh air, whose earth, produces oil and wine as well as grain, is produced."
        (Giustiniani - Diz. Geografico)



Of uncertain origins:

According to Tasselli, established in the Vllth century by the sons of Scipio Africanus. According to Masselli, founded in the Xllth century, by the people who withdrew into the cane grasses ('canneti'in Italian, hence the name 'Cannole') escaping from Guglielmo Il Malo.


Gardens of the Castle


Parish Church
Sponsors
Information about "Pietra Leccese"
Participating Artists
Artists at Work
Vitalità: Marina Pizzarelli
Memoria: Mario Calcagnile
"Festa della Municeddha"
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Monuments
  • The 16th century Baroque parish church with its facade crowned by a half-moon opening in the centre. The interior contains altars in 'pietra leccese'. Particularly noteworthy is the 17thcentury painting of the 'Madonna del Rosario'.

  • The clock tower.

  • The castle built in 1413 as a fortress defence against the 0rsini del Balzo, which includes a 17thcentury noble garden rich with fountains carved in 'pietra leccese'.

  • The Palazzo Siqnorile with a portico (Seggio) designed as a law court.

  • The Palazzo Villani

  • A dolmen transformed into a celebratory cross.

  • The Chapel of the Madonna of Constantinopole, commonly known as the "Madonna del turco"

  • The menhir, called the "column of Santu Lasi"

  • Subterranean olive presses

  • "Masserie", fortress farmhouses of which the most important is the 'Masseria di Torcito' (1200) with its adjacent outbuildings
Piazza San Vito


Madonna of Constantinople
Cerceto Nature Park
This park, situated a few hundred metres outside the town of Cannole, occupies an area of 203 hectares. It includes a complex of fortified built works from the 13th century, composed of the Masseria Cerceto or 'Torcito', the Masseria Piccinna and other outbuildings and constructions related to early farming activity, such as the massive dovecote, the subterranean olive press with "ciave" (special openings used for depositing olives), the "snowroom" (an underground structure for the conservation of winter snows which were subsequently used during the summer), the Chapel of San Vito and numerous tombs.

The name Cerceto is mentioned in the declaration of Frederick II in 1219 and another date, 1274, is incised on the exterior arch of the surrounding walls.

In 1998 restoration work was begun on the farmhouses and adjacent structures. This farming complex, listed in the "Tour of Fortified Farmhouses" because of its historical and and cultural stature, fits perfectly into the circuit of environtmental and cultural heritage sites known as "Protected Oases" (instituted in 1990), as well as serving as a tourist attraction which is at once an alternative and a complement to the nearby seacoasts.
Masseria "Torcito"