Vernole, or Spring among the Olive Trees

Dario Melissano 4 March 2025

Vernole is a municipality in the province of Lecce, in the heart of Salento. The name of the town, according to local historian Eugenio De Carlo, could derive from the Latin verb “verno”, which means “to sprout” or “to be spring”, reflecting the climatic characteristics of the area. Traditionally, it is believed that the name could also mean “spring among the olive trees”, in reference to the predominant presence of olive trees in the local landscape. A true Japanese haiku.

The origins of Vernole date back to the Bronze Age, with the presence of indigenous populations in the Acquarica–Acaya–Pisignano triangle (today hamlets belonging to the municipality of Vernole) where megalithic monuments were found. Significant traces date back to the Messapian period, with archaeological excavations that revealed in the Pozzo Seccato area, a fortified farmhouse from the 4th century BC. One of the first farmhouses in Salento. Among those known, certainly the oldest.

The first written information about Vernole dates back to 1115, when Goffredo, Count of Lecce, donated half of the hamlet of Vernole to the Bishop of Lecce for the restoration of the main church. This donation was confirmed by Constance of Altavilla in 1195. Due to the Saracen raids, the inhabitants moved to the current site, leaving only the ruins of the current church of San Lorenzo.

The town experienced a revolutionary episode in 1961 during the municipal elections. After a draw and accusations of poisoning against a municipal councilor, members of the Communist Party blocked access to the town hall for days. With the arrival of the prefect and a mayor appointed by the prefect, the town returned to the control of the state authority.

Among the monuments to visit, the Church of Maria Santissima Assunta, built in 1730 on the ruins of a previous building. Typical example of Lecce Baroque, with a richly decorated façade and a Latin cross interior that preserves Baroque altars.

The Church of Sant'Anna, built between 1673 and 1680, has a simple and linear façade, while the interior is decorated in Baroque style and houses an altarpiece depicting Saint Anna.

The Church of the Visitation, with frescoes and altarpieces inside, and the Church of San Lorenzo, the oldest evidence of the original Casale di Vernole.

A few kilometers from the city center lies the Riserva Naturale Statale delle Cesine. Located along the Adriatic coast, it represents one of the last marshy areas in the region and is home to a variety of plant and animal species, many of which are in danger of extinction.

One of the characteristics of Vernole is its constellation of hamlets. So much so that it has received the ironic nickname of United States of Vernole. It has five of them: Acaya, Acquarica di Lecce, Pisignano, Strudà and Vanze.

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Vernole, or Spring among the Olive Trees

Written by Dario Melissano

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Vernole, or Spring among the Olive Trees

Written by Dario Melissano

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