Melendugno, città di Poesia, Orsi e Santi

Dario Melissano 5 March 2023

According to legend, Malennio founded Syrbar, the first name of the coastal town Roca, which means City of the Sun, as well as Lyppiae (now Lecce) and Rudiae. Therefore, the toponym of Melendugno comes from the root of his name.

He later transformed from Malandugno (bringer of misfortune) to Melendugno (bringer of sweetness).

Another hypothesis, also supported by the municipal coat of arms, traces the origin of the name back to honey and the activity of bees (honey is called mele in the local dialect)

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Among the main attractions of the city are its churches, many of which date back to medieval times. One of the most important is the Church of San Giorgio, located in the historic center of the city. The church, built in the 14th century, has a Gothic-Romanesque style and a beautiful rose window on the main portal.

Another church of great interest is the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, located not far from the center, which dates back to the 15th century and is characterized by a baroque facade and a portal in Lecce stone. Inside you can admire frescoes of great artistic value, such as the one depicting the Madonna degli Angeli.

Not far from Melendugno is also the Church of San Foca, located on the beach of the same name. The church, dating back to the 18th century, has a neoclassical style and a beautiful dome with frescoes depicting the Glory of San Foca.

In addition to the churches, Melendugno also offers other places of historical and artistic interest. One of these is the Melendugno Castle, built in the 14th century to defend the city from Saracen raids. The castle has a square plan with four corner towers and an internal courtyard, and has recently been restored and opened to the public.

Also not to be missed is the Palazzo del Barone di Melendugno, located in the historic center of the city. Built in the 18th century, it has a Baroque style and an imposing facade, with a portal in Lecce stone and a balcony overlooking the main square of the city.

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The municipality of Melendugno has a vast fiefdom that includes the marinas such as Torre Specchia Ruggeri, San Foca, Roca, Torre dell’Orso, Torre Saracena and Sant’Andrea. You can therefore visit the long beaches of San Foca, or dive into the Poesia cave in Roca, or visit the stacks of the beach of Torre dell’Orso, finally you can admire a sunset from the cove of Sant’Andrea, with the famous stack of the Sphinx.

Nearby Borgagne is a small town, surrounded by olive groves, a hamlet of the municipality of Melendugno.

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Melendugno, city of Poetry, Bears and Saints

Written by Dario Melissano

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Melendugno, city of Poetry, Bears and Saints

Written by Dario Melissano

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