Zollino, the town of the dwarf pea and scéblasti

The origin of the name is a matter of debate. One of the most accredited theories suggests that it derives from Soletino, which would mean the small Soleto, later transformed into Solino (like the 2002 film directed by Fatih Akın, actually shot in Salento and then into Zollino. According to this interpretation, Zollino was a fraction of the Messapian city of Soleto, founded by some of its inhabitants.

The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as demonstrated by the megalithic works, including still visible menhirs and dolmens. The Sant’Anna menhir and the Stazione menhir are two essential stops on the tour of the historic center of the town.

During the Middle Ages, Zollino belonged to the county of Lecce, governed by the Normans. In 1190, King Tancredi d’Altavilla donated the hamlet of Zollino to Baron Belingherio Chiaromonte. Over the centuries, Zollino passed under the control of various noble families and underwent several administrative transformations. Until the 16th century, the Greek rite was practiced in the municipality. With the Catasto Onciario of 1746, a population of 290 inhabitants was recorded, mainly dedicated to agriculture.

Wandering around the historic center we come across seventeenth-century churches and columns, in mazes of alleys that on the night of San Giovanni become the stage for an event that inaugurates the Salento summer. The San Giovanni fair, on June 23 and 24, is part of that series of summer events aimed at the environment and eco-sustainability. You can observe the stars and perform the magical rituals of San Giovanni, all amidst music, merchants and scéblasti condite.

Scéblasti is a typical seasoned bread originating from Zollino. The term comes from the gríca language spoken in the town and means without shape, unmoulded. Traditionally, scéblasti is cooked on stone in wood-fired ovens, and according to local customs, it was the first bread to be baked, usually at dawn. This moment represented an important occasion of conviviality and good luck for the farmers, symbolizing the beginning of a new working day.

Every year, on August 2nd and 3rd, Zollino organizes the scéblasti festival, an event that celebrates this delicious bread and other local culinary traditions.

On the night of San Giovanni you can enjoy another typical dish of the country, based on a very particular legume, namely the Zollino dwarf pea, which stands out for its small size (the plants only reach 30 cm in height). Over time, the Zollino Dwarf Pea has developed a harmonious balance with the unique climatic conditions of the Salento area. The soil, characterized by a substratum of Lecce stone, gives the legume a distinctive flavor and high nutritional quality. The fleshy pulp and small size make it easily digestible.

A work in Lecce stone, by the Zollino sculptor Giuseppe Castellano, celebrates the legendary legume. In the town it is not uncommon to find several works by this extraordinary artist. Tributes to the elves of tradition with elements of syncretism between the pagan and Christian worlds.

Not far from the historic center, we encounter a suggestive and pathos-filled place: Le Pozzelle di Zollino.

While just outside the city center stands the Madonna di Loreto Chapel, built between 1774 and 1781, it has a high altar in Baroque style and a statue of the Virgin Mary. An oasis of peace and meditation that has always been a favorite place for the people of Zollino. Perhaps also for my beloved grandfather Mesciò Bernardino. Master builder and master stonemason to whom I dedicated a short film performed in the local dialect, with a young actor who is an alter ego of me as a child.