Pisignano, the Menhir village

Menhir Materdomini a Vernole Pisignano FG02

Dario Melissano 5 March 2025

Pisignano is a charming hamlet that is part of the municipality of Vernole, located in the province of Lecce. This town has a population of just under 1000 inhabitants. Its history is steeped in significant events that date back to ancient times, in particular to the Norman period, when the area began to develop as an important agricultural settlement.

The community has experienced several crucial moments, marked by changes in power among local nobles and the presence of subversive figures during the first uprisings of the Risorgimento. In 1822, some inhabitants of the hamlet were reported as subversives, including Raffaele Stella and Don Vito Antonucci, a priest.

Among the main attractions of Pisignano, the mother church dedicated to Santa Maria Mater Domini stands out. This sacred building, which dates back to the 12th century, represents a notable example of Romanesque architecture, even though over the centuries it has undergone modifications in Baroque style between the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century. The church houses an important effigy of the Virgin, a valuable work painted on stone dating back to 1500. The façade, built in typical Lecce stone, is adorned with Doric pilasters and culminates in a tympanum that houses a niche containing the statue of Santa Severina. Inside, the church has an imposing Latin cross structure with four side altars, dedicated respectively to the Madonna del Rosario, the Souls of Purgatory, Saint Anthony of Padua and the Virgin Mary. Next to the church stands the Menhir Mater Domini.

Oltre alla chiesa madre, Pisignano ospita altri luoghi di interesse, come la Cappella di Santa Severina, risalente al XVII secolo, e la Cappella di Mater Domini, che appartiene al XVIII secolo e presenta una pavimentazione in maiolica di grande valore artistico. All’interno di quest’ultima è custodito un crocifisso ligneo, databile al XIII secolo, che attira l’attenzione dei visitatori.

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Pisignano, the Menhir village

Written by Dario Melissano

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Pisignano, the Menhir village

Written by Dario Melissano

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