Acquarica del Capo was a town and comune in the province of Lecce, Apulia, south-eastern Italy. In 2019 it was merged with the adjacent Presicce to form Presicce-Acquarica.

Acquarica del Capo
Comune di Acquarica del Capo
Medieval castle
Medieval castle
Coat of arms of Acquarica del Capo
Location of Acquarica del Capo
Map
Acquarica del Capo is located in Italy
Acquarica del Capo
Acquarica del Capo
Location of Acquarica del Capo in Italy
Acquarica del Capo is located in Apulia
Acquarica del Capo
Acquarica del Capo
Acquarica del Capo (Apulia)
Coordinates: E39°54′46″N 18°14′46″E / 39.91278°N 18.24611°E / 39.91278; 18.24611
CountryItaly
Region Apulia
ProvinceLecce (LE)
Government
 • MayorFrancesco Ferraro
Area
 • Total18.7 km2 (7.2 sq mi)
Elevation
110 m (360 ft)
Population
 (30 April 2017)[2]
 • Total4,710
 • Density250/km2 (650/sq mi)
DemonymAcquaricesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
73040
Dialing code0833
Patron saintSt. Charles Borromeo
Saint dayNovember 4
WebsiteOfficial website
Church of Madonna dei Panetti.

It is located in Salento, 10 km from the Ionian Sea and 60 km from Lecce. Its origins are medieval and it grew around a Norman fortification. Later it was transformed into a castle town by the Aragonese.

Main sights edit

  • Medieval castle. It was probably a Norman fortification around which the village developed in the Middle Ages and was later transformed in a Castle in the 14th century by Giovanni Antonio Orsini Del Balzo, Prince of Taranto. Only a round tower remains from the original four. In the court can be seen the so-called "Pila di Pompignano" saved from destruction in 1982 by the local writer Carlo Stasi who wrote its legend.[3]
  • Church of San Carlo Borromeo
  • Church of San Giovanni Battista
  • Church Madonna dei Panetti, at Celsorizzo, one of the most ancient constructions in the lower Salento.
  • Fortified masseria of Celsorizzo. A huge Norman Tower with Byzantine frescoes in the Chapel at its base.
  • Church of Madonna di Pompignano

References edit

  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ Population from ISTAT
  3. ^ "La Pila di Pompignano", pp. 129-164, in Carlo Stasi, Leucàsia e Le Due Sorelle (Storie e leggende del Salento), Mancarella Ed., Cavallino, 2008, 2012, ISBN 9788890366901