Masseria Francescani is a corner nestled in the Salento countryside.
Masseria Francescani is a corner nestled in the Salento countryside. Stories are told of wayfarers and pilgrims walking along the ancient Via del Carro, which for centuries run parallel to the millennia-old Via Traiana, a crossroads of exchange of goods and cultures shaping the fervent development of the Salento area in the 16th century. It rises in this strip of land, Masseria Francescani. This place takes shape between the 16th and 18th centuries around two towers, silent guardians of ancient secrets and guardians of surprising 17th-century frescoes. A fortified masseria at the heart of thick stone walls smoothed by time and guardians of stories of pride and defense during Saracen invasions.
In a fascinating journey into the past, we immerse ourselves in a place rich in history and magnificence. This extraordinary mansion from 1633 bears witness to a deep connection with time, which has shaped and united two structures with a common destiny.
But it is from the chapel of the 16th-17th century period, outside the complex, that the whole story of Masseria Francescani began. This history is intertwined first with the Riccio family (until the 18th century)-among courtyards, houses and a mill serving the settlers - then with the vision of Baron Giacinto Personè, who changed the appearance of the masseria and expanded its spaces in the 1930s.
After ups and downs of ownership, between abandonment and rebirth, the complex returns to shine with the name "Masseria Francescani": an exciting return to the roots, where the past merges with modernity, giving new life to this unique place.
The Church
Located in the courtyard, in the past it represented the place of worship. With its style Baroque is reminiscent of the facade of the Basilica of Santa Croce in Lecce. The Swabian eagles depicted symbolize the link of descent between the family that inhabited the masseria and Frederick II of Swabia. The Byzantine portrait of the Virgin of Mount Carmel, with St. Francis of Paola and St. Francis of Assisi, on the other hand, suggests that the Masseria is dedicated to the Franciscan order.
The court
Formerly the main meeting point for settlers, today a venue for wonderful custom-embroidered celebrations that evoke atmospheres of ancient beauty.
The court
Formerly the main meeting point for settlers, today a venue for wonderful custom-embroidered celebrations that evoke atmospheres of ancient beauty.
The stable
Today it is divided into two rooms: one nave with barrel vaults dating back to the 1500 and the other with star vaults from the 1600s. Inside are still present the old mangers and a large fireplace used in the past to heat the cattle during the winter.
The impluvium
Originating even before the masseria, the cisterns were built by the Romans in the fifth century AD.
The impluvium
Originating even before the masseria, the cisterns were built by the Romans in the fifth century AD.
