Guagnano is a town and comune in the province of Lecce, Apulia, south-eastern Italy. Situated in northern Salento, it also includes the fraction of Villa Baldassarri.
History
Guagnano was originally part of a group of villages, and at the end of the 13th century the region belonged to the feud of the count of Lecce. It became the possession of the Orsini del Balzo, princes of Taranto, then passed into the hands of Baron Matteo de Admiaris, before becoming the possession of a series of families. In 1811 a large village, Villa Baldassarri, was added to the principality of Guagnano and remains part of it today.
Origin of name
The etymologia of Guagnano possibly derives from a word referring to marshes that are rich in water. It could also derive from a Latin name of an unidentified person, maybe Covanius or Aequanius, with the suffix "-ano" added to indicate possession of a property. According to historian Giacomo Arditi, however, the name comes from the word guadagno which refers to the fertility of the land and the meadows and to lucrative activities of the region.
Guagnano has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot humid summers. The average temperature in January, its coldest month, is 9 °C, while in its hottest month, August, the average temperature is 24.7 °C. Yearly average precipitation, which is frequent in autumn and winter, reaches 626 mm. Spring and summer are characterized by long periods of drought. Eastern Salento is subject to cold winds from the Balkans and hot winds from North Africa.
Main sights
Chiesa Madre
Construction on the Chiesa Madre, dedicated to the Madonna Assunta, began in the 18th century. It was built over a 15th-century structure made on the spot where an image of Our Lady of the Rosary was found. It has a large Baroque facade divided into two orders, characterized by an entrance above which is located a sculpture of the Assumption, and flanked by two smaller doors with refined decoration. The interior, with the shape of a Latin cross with three naves, is decorated with opulent gold-plated stucco. The naves, with starred ceilings, house several Baroque altars dedicated to: the Crucifixion; St Francis Xavier; St Oronzo; the Madonna del Carmine; Sts Cosmas and Damian; St Francis of Assisi; and St Joseph. In the right transept is an important altar dedicated to the Madonna of the Rosary containing an image of the Virgin from the 14th century. The Renaissance baptistery is recently restored.
The church of the Madonna of the Rosario, was constructed in the middle of the 18th century. It contains relics of the four martyrs; of particular interest is the statue of the Virgin.
Manors
Bosco Manor
Camarda Manor
Marina Manor
Monte Calabrese Manor
Nardo di Prato Fortified Manor
Patriglione Manor
Poggi Manor
Pucciano Manor
San Gaetano Fortified Manor
Language
The Salentino dialect is spoken in Guagnano in a variant that is much influenced by the dialect of Lecce. The Salentino dialect was influenced by the various linguistic groups that established themselves in this area including: Messapi, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Lombards, Normans, Albanians, French, and Spaniards.
The Feast of St Anthony the Abbot, with the traditional bonfire on the last Sunday of January
The Feast of St Joseph
The festival of the grapes and wine during the last ten days of July
The "Terre del Negroamaro" Prize on the first Friday after August 15
The Feast of the Madonna of Mount Carmel, with a traditional festival during the first ten days of September
Feast of the Madonna of the Rosary, with a traditional market during the first ten days of October
Economy
The cultivation of grapes is the most important economic activity of Guagnano. Grapes are grown for use in both table wines as well as wines for selling and export. It is at the center of the production DOC of the wine known as Salice Salentino and numerous cantinas have been established in this sector by various consortiums. Furniture making is also a significant economic factor of the area.
Transportation
State road 7, stretching from Taranto to Lecce, runs through the city center of Guagnano and is its main road. The city center can also be reached by local roads SP104, SP105, SP106, and SP327. Guagnano sits on the railway line Martina Franca-Lecce.
