In the heart of Lower Salento, almost in the vicinity of Capo di Leuca, there is a small village nestled among the most beautiful in Italy. This is theancient village of Specchia, enveloped in fascinating atmospheres that return to visitors one of the most genuine faces of the territory.
The historic center of Specchia winds through winding streets and pretty alleys that hide pleasant urban discoveries in every corner, all to be admired. The main square that hosts all the wonder of Specchia, Piazza del Popolo, still retains an incredible beauty of inestimable artistic and cultural value. Through its churches, squares and palaces, the city's history is preserved intact among testimonies and legends, thus boasting a firm identity and cultural profile.
All that remains, then, is to set off on a walk through the charming historic center of specchia, discovering the most beautiful structures and monuments that contribute to keeping alive the authentic charm of the Salento village.
A tour of the palaces: Risolo Castle in Specchia
First among the palaces that stand out in the elegant historic center of Specchia is the Risolo Castle. Its austere facade dominates Piazza del Popolo and helps create a timeless atmosphere around it.
The Risolo palace in Specchia dates back to the 16th century and, over the following centuries, belonged to various important families, until it was transformed into a marquis palace by the Protonobilissimi family, marquises of Specchia during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Limponente quadrangular structure is softened by an elegant balustrade and a corner tower that lends majesty to the entire architectural elevation. On the main facade, which today has an 18th-century appearance, there is a huge wooden doorway surmounted by the family coat of arms. Inside the castle is a large courtyard from which the crenellated tower can be better admired.
Ripa Palace
A few steps from the Risolo castle, there is another architectural gem that is absolutely not to be missed during a walk in the heart of the ancient village of Specchia.
This is Palazzo Ripa, an important historical building of baronial origin that bears the name of the family that owned it. It was built in the 17th century next to Porta Leuca, one of the main access roads to the town center.
The structure has a rectangular plan with a crenellated top accompanied by a small side turret that was added in the 18th century. The arcade was also built later in 1900, at the request of the count's heirs, and is now one of the city's main gathering places for young people.
The churches of Specchia
Also among the architectural jewels overlooking Piazza del Popolo in Specchia, the 15th-century Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary deserves special mention. Particularly worth admiring is its bell tower, which was erected in 1945 to replace the 16th-century one that was destroyed in World War II bombings. Inside the church, moreover, one can admire the altar and apse built entirely of Lecce stone.
Just a little outside the historic center, equally evocative and all to be discovered is the Church of Santa Eufemia, a true Byzantine jewel dating back to the period between the 9th and 10th centuries. Very symbolic is the apse that faces east, in the direction of the sun.
Convent of the Black Franciscans in Specchia
Of all the churches in Specchia, however, absolutely not to be missed is the Church of San Francesco Neri with an adjoining monastery, inside which is the beautiful Chapel of Santa Caterina Martire and the striking crypt, dug into the rock by Basilian monks.
The construction of the monastery of the Black Franciscans, which dates back to the first decades of the 16th century, is said to have been prophesied by St. Francis of Assisi, who, on his return from a crusade, stopped in Specchia, attracted by a strong scent of oranges. Having found the source of that sensory hypnosis he would have picked a fruit which, raised to the sky, was pierced by a ray of sunlight. The sacred building was renovated in the 18th century according to the Baroque style of the time .
The hypogean oil mills in Specchia
Specchia is also famous for those monuments of peasant making and a culture devoted to work and contact with nature: the underground oil mills. These are particularly well-equipped rooms dug underground that were used for the processing of olives and the production of oil.
Known in the town is the so-called Via dei frantoi ipogei Perrone, Scupola, Francescani Neri and Cicca , which still narrate and preserve memories of the humble peasant life that animated the local area in the past.
Beaches near Specchia: here's where to go
The municipality of Specchia is located right in the center of the Salento peninsula, so you have the possibility to easily reach both the beaches of the Ioniancoastand those of the Adriatic coast.
A very popular destination for those who want to enjoy a relaxing day at the beach, surrounded by the most beautiful landscape nuances, is the beach of Pescoluse. Lying along the Ionian coast of Salento, its coastline of the finest sand is lapped by crystal clear waters giving the landscape a heavenly appearance.
It is no coincidence that it is among the resorts that are part of the so-called Maldives of Salento. Another queen location of the Maldives of Salento is the beach of Torre Pali. The characteristic of this seaside resort is that the sand of the beaches alternates with a piece of rocky coastline, ideal for those who want to dive into a sea of fun.
The seaside resorts par excellence along the Adriatic coast not far from Specchia, on the other hand, wind between Andrano and Tricase. A must-see is the Grotta Verde in the marina of Andrano, which attracts thousands of visitors for its crystal-clear emerald-green waters.
To make the most of your stay in Salento, with Barbarhouse you have the opportunity to book a vacation home in Tricase and stay within walking distance of the main villages that dot the area and the most beautiful beaches of the Adriatic coast.
Again, you can opt for a stay in one of our vacation homes in Castro Marina, another of the most picturesque villages of the Salento Adriatic.
