The Territory

Located in the centre of the Salento peninsula, the municipality of San Pietro Vernotico is part of the Parco del Negramaro. The oldest monumental testimony today present in the town is the Torre Baronale (Baronial Tower), also known as the Torre Quadrata (Square Tower). One of the most important traditions of the village is profoundly linked to this structure: the Festa dell’Asta della Bandiera. In fact it was said that from here it was possible to sight the invading Turkish invaders in time, and organise the defence of the town. On the Sunday after Easter this episode is remembered in a procession that crosses the historical centre. Particularly interesting points are the very central Chiesa Madre dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta dating back to the XV century and the Church of San Pietro Apostolo, a fine example of Seventeenth century architecture rebuilt on top of a previous medieval building. On the journey between the two churches there are many points of historical and artistic interest. Certainly not to be missed are the characteristic Case a cannizzu (houses with cane walls) of via San Pietro, simple white-washed stone and clay dwellings. More splendid on the other hand are the Liberty style buildings in via Stazione: the former rural bank, built at the end of the 1920’s, and Villa Valletta, built around 1910. Just a few kilometres outside the town we find Campo di Mare, a charming seaside resort characterised by clay cliffs and the almost constant north wind which makes it a pleasantly ventilated place. Domenico Modugno, who took his first steps as a singer in San Pietro Vernotico, spent most of his life in the streets of the little town.

Typical products

DOP oil, DOC wines, IGP brindisino artichoke. The economy of San Pietro Vernotico is mainly based on agriculture. In particular the most important products are wine, oil and above all artichokes. This is the land where the IGP Brindisimo Artichoke is grown which is unique for being harvested early and for its tenderness, as well as for its excellent organoleptic properties and cooking versatility.

EVENTI

January Feast of Saint Abate and lighting of the “Focara” (17th January).

February Torchlight procession in honour of the Madonna of Lourdes (11the February).

March – April Feast of Saint Giuseppe (19th March) Asta della Bandiera (First Sunday after Easter).

May Feast of the Madonna di Pompei (During the month).

June Feast of the patron saint, Saint Pietro Apostolo (29th June): preparation for the feast starts on 19th June with the procession of the statue of the saint from the mother church to the church of Saint Pietro Apostolo. On 28th June a solemn procession is held which marks the beginning of the three days of the town’s celebrations.

July Feast of the Madonna del Carmine (15-16 July).

September Feasts of Saints Cosma and Damiano (26th September).

October Feast of the Madonna di Sanarica (During the month).

December Fair of the Immacolata and feast of the pittule (8th December).

Domenico Modugno (Polignano a Mare, 9^th January 1928 – Lampedusa, 6^th August 1994) was a singer, a guitar player, an actor, a director and a politician. He lived in San Pietro Vernotico from his childhood to his adolscensce, after his father’s transfer as municipal guard head. His main success in the world is Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu (known as Volare), written with Franco Migliacci and sung during the Festival of Sanremo in 1958. This song launched him in the show business. In 1963 the autobiographical movie “Tutto è musica”, mixing reality and fantasy tells about his adoloscence in Puglia.

Melli Federico (dead in San Pietro Vernotico in 1940) was one of the last heirs of the ancient Melli family of San Pietro Vernotico.

Andrea Pancani (Naples, 30^th July 1961) a journalist and TV showman, teacher, too. He lived in San Pietro Vernotico from his childhood up to his transfer to Rome.

Augusto Ponzio [San Pietro Vernotico, 17^th February 1942] was a philosophe, semiotic and linguist.

Thiago Alcántara do Nascimento known as Thiago (San Pietro Vernotico, 11^th April 1991) is a brazilian football player, spanish naturalized, with a midfielder role. Today he plays in the Bayern Monaco team.

B&B, HOTEL and HOUSE:

• BED and BREAKFAST CAIROLI
SAN PIETRO VERNOTICO (BR)
via Cairoli, n°31
Cell 349 5662127
www.cairoli.net

• B&B PIAZZA DEL POPOLO SAN PIETRO VERNOTICO
SAN PIETRO VERNOTICO (BR)
Via Galliano, n°10
Cell 339 2883631

• B&B VILLA LA CUPA
SAN PIETRO VERNOTICO (BR)
Via Cellino, n°182
Tel 0831 617027

• B&B TENUTA IACOBAZZI
SAN PIETRO VERNOTICO (BR)
Contrada Castagna (S.S. 16 Brindisi – San Pietro Vernotico)

• COSTE DEL SALENTO
SAN PIETRO VERNOTICO (BR)
Via Mesagne, n°10
www.bb-costedelsalento.it

• B&B MASSERIA MONACHE
SAN PIETRO VERNOTICO (BR)
Strada Provinciale, n°86 (San Pietro Vernotico – Torre S.Gennaro)
Cell 347 1344401

CAFE, RESTAURANTS and PIZZERIAS:

• RISTORANTE GIRO DI BITTA PAOLA
SAN PIETRO VERNOTICO (BR)
Via Cellino, n°23
Tel 0831 671521

• RISTORANTE TENUTA PERSANO
SAN PIETRO VERNOTICO (BR)
Contrada Fauso
Cell 338 7253525
www.tenutapersano.net

• RISTORANTE SUNNARI
SAN PIETRO VERNOTICO (BR)
Via Principe Amedeo

• LA LAMPARA
SAN PIETRO VERNOTICO (BR)
Campo di Mare
Cell 330 702854

• RISTORANTE PIZZERIA PEGASO DI GIANNUZZI ANTONIO
SAN PIETRO VERNOTICO (BR)
Via Brindisi, n°92
Tel 0831 671459

• PIZZERIA RISTORANTE TIFFANY
SAN PIETRO VERNOTICO (BR)
Via Strada Statale, n°16 adriatica km. 0.200 contrada castagna
Tel 0831 654379

• RISTORANTE PIZZERIA SANTA FE
SAN PIETRO VERNOTICO (BR)
Via brindisi, n°310
Cell 3397538469

• PIZZERIA MILLEGUSTI DI GIANNI RIZZATO
SAN PIETRO VERNOTICO (BR)
Via Lecce
Cell 0831 652425

FARMS:

• AZIENDA AGRICOLA MARZANO CORRADO
www.agricolamarzano.it
Via Pier Giovanni Rizzo 42 – 72027 San Pietro Vernotico (BR)
Tel 0831 653882

• AZIENDA AGRICOLA RIZZO
Via Lecce 12 – 72027 San Pietro Vernotico (BR)
Cell 368 571366

• AZIENDA AGRICOLA SONTUOSO DI GIACOMO E ROBERTO
Principe Amedeo 38 – 72027 San Pietro Vernotico (BR)
Tel 0831 652521

• AGRICOLE MARANGIO SRL
via Mare 92/94 – 72027 San Pietro Vernotico (BR)
Tel 0831 480004

• DE MARCO FABRIZIO
Via Lecce 20 – 72027 San Pietro Vernotico (BR)
Tel 0831 654426

• DE CASTRO FRATELLI
Via Maternità Infanzia 20 – 72027 San Pietro Vernotico (BR)
Tel 0831 671174

• AZIENDA AGRICOLA CARRIERI ALFONSO
Via F.lli Cervi 20 – 72027 San Pietro Vernotico (BR)
Tel 0831 653715

• AZIENDA AGRICOLA DI ARSIENI GIUSEPPE E DATTESI STELLA
Via Spallanzani 56 – 72027 San Pietro Vernotico (BR)

• AZIENDA AGRICOLA CIOTOLA LUIGI
VIA MESAGNE 85 – 72027 San Pietro Vernotico (BR)

• AZIENDA AGRICOLA DI DE MARCO MIRELLA
Via G. Di Vittorio 9 – 72027 San Pietro Vernotico (BR)