Vanze is a small hamlet in the municipality of Vernole, located in the province of Lecce. With a population of 255 inhabitants and a history that dates back to the early Middle Ages, during the Byzantine era. Founded thanks to the arrival of settlers, the village has seen the development of an economic activity mainly based on agriculture and sheep farming over the centuries. Starting from the 11th century, Vanze became part of the County of Lecce, following its historical vicissitudes until the Orsini period. Subsequently, the fiefdom passed under the control of the Pagano family and, from the beginning of the 17th century until the abolition of feudalism, it was governed by the Maiorano family. With the unification of Italy in 1866 and the end of Bourbon rule, Vanze was aggregated to the Municipality of Vernole, together with other hamlets such as Acaja, Acquarica di Lecce, Pisignano and Strudà.
The Church of Maria SS. Assunta is a religious building dating back to the 18th century, which underwent a renovation of the facade in 1930. The church is dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption and represents the main place of worship for the inhabitants of Vanze.
The Baronial Palace, dating back to the 16th century, is characterised by a large rusticated portal and includes a fortified tower house, a distinctive element of its architecture.
The Monumental Gate dates back to the 15th-16th centuries and was renovated in the late 1990s. It is thought that it may have been part of a pre-existing fortified building or the walls of a now destroyed city. The façade facing the sea has a simple single arch, while the one facing the town is characterised by a segmental arch. In the upper part, the remains of a border that once covered the entire perimeter of the gate are still visible.
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