Country Italy Province / Metropolitan city Lecce (LE) Demonym(s) Zollinesi Area 9 km² Province Province of Lecce | Region Apulia Elevation 90 m (300 ft) Time zone CET (UTC+1) Local time Sunday 7:42 AM Patron saint Anthony of Padua | |
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Weather 14°C, Wind SE at 18 km/h, 86% Humidity | ||
Zollino is a small town and comune of 2,194 inhabitants in the province of Lecce in Apulia, Italy. It is one of the nine towns of Grecìa Salentina, which still keeps Greek language and traditions.
Contents
Map of 73010 Zollino Province of Lecce, Italy
History
Zollino's territory was settled in pre-historic times, as attested by the presence of dolmens and menhirs in the area. Its foundation origin is not clear: it could be a Iapygian colony from the nearby Apigliano, or a rural offshoot of Soleto. In historical ancient times it was an important trade centre between the Ionian and the Adriatic coasts.
In the Middle Ages, it belonged to the county of Lecce founded by the Hauteville Normands. In 1190 king Tancred of Sicily donated it to Berlinghiero Chiaromonte. After belonging to the Principality of Taranto, in 1463 it became a possession of Raimondello Orsini del Balzo. Afterwards the latter's death Zollino was again a direct royal possession and, later, a fief of the Granafei marquisses of Sternatia.
Main sights
Transportation
Zollino has a station on the Lecce-Gallipoli and Zollino-Gagliano del Capo railroads, served by the Ferrovie del Sud Est.
By road, it can be reached through the Lecce-Maglie SS16 Adriatica state road.