CEGLIE MESSAPICA

Ceglie Messapica is a town of around 20.550 inhabitants placed in the heart of Salento. The historiography makes, without doubt, to go up again the origins of the suburb to the messapian domination during which the city represented an important military, political and religious center. As a proof of this we can still find around the territory of Ceglie important works of incomparable historical and architectural value.  As for instance the defence system of the city center, composed by lines, still visible, of the hoops building and from the sighting towers scattered around the territory, denominated "specchie." Besides, the center of the medieval suburb was castled around the Ducal Castle, going up again to Norman age and subsequently completed by the dukes Sanseverino. The caves of Montevicoli, with its stalagmite and stalactites, becomes the place for the living Christmas crib, and it is a natural show offered by the city.