Nula
A municipality in central-southern Salento, at the beginning of the 19th century, together with Sogliano Cavour, Cursi, Cannole and today's Grecìa Salentina municipalities, it was part of the Union of Municipalities of Grecìa Salentina. The etymological origin dates back to the Greek-Latin personal name, Oecotrophius; or the Oscan, Octufrius. The toponymy also reports a derivation linked to the ancient activity of producing terracotta objects, the cutrubbi, typical clay vessels (from the Greek khytrameaning vase), hence Cutrubbiano, and then Cutrofiano countryside.
It is the birthplace of Uccio Aloisi, one of the “great fathers” of the pizzica salentina and traditional songs.
The càntaro, on the other hand, represented a practical and necessary solution in the home, especially for less affluent families. Its etymology, rooted in Greek and Arabic, highlights a significant cultural and historical link, showing how an everyday object can encapsulate stories and traditions.
With the advent of the modern toilet, the càntaro has lost its original function, but not its symbolic value. Its transformation into an ornament reflects Salento's creativity, which has been able to reinvent an everyday object into a decorative element, keeping tradition alive through the art of ceramics.
The long and successful tradition of terracotta craftsmanship makes Cutrofiano the most important centre of ceramic production in the lower Salento region. Today the municipality is home to eight workshops, but only at the end of the last century it boasted more than forty. As a continuation and crowning achievement of this tradition, the annual exhibition of handmade ceramics is held in August. Since 1973, it has been an essential showcase for the excellence of the sector, with a varied sample of products, many of which are finely decorated.
Not to be missed is a visit to the Ceramics Museum, housed in the Municipal Library, where the artefacts of old local craftsmen, a collection of majolica, medieval, Roman and even prehistoric artefacts are on display.
There are several traditions that are preserved in the village of Salento. One of the most characteristic takes place in February, and celebrates Saint Anthony te lu Focu. This is a procession to commemorate the miracle of the saint, in which fires are lit throughout the streets and districts of the village.
The mother church is dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows and displays a rich and detailed architecture. The salient façade, with its structure divided into two registers and adorned with pilasters, offers a remarkable visual impact, while the portals and oculi contribute to a sense of welcome and luminosity.
Il campanile, con la sua base quadrata e le monofore, si erge come un elemento distintivo, coronato dalla lanterna e dalla cupoletta, aggiungendo verticalità al profilo della chiesa.
Inside, the three naves, supported by columns and round arches, create a spacious and harmonious space. The vaults, with different shapes, enrich the atmosphere and guide the eye towards the presbytery, where works of art of considerable value are located, such as the side altars and the altarpiece by Francesco SolimenaThese elements not only testify to the artistic beauty, but also to the history and spirituality of the place.
Not far from the city centre, in the Signureddha area, there are some rainwater lakes that over time have become true naturalistic jewels.
Read: Signureddha lakes in Cutrofiano
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