If you are looking for a place where time seems to flow at an old-fashioned pace, you've found it. Matino is a small, peaceful town of around 11,000 inhabitants, nestled in the beating heart of Salento.
Its location is simply strategic: just 10 km from the beaches of Gallipoli and 40 km from the beauties of Lecce, Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca. Sitting at 85 metres above sea level and surrounded by the fertile Valle di Ottaviano between olive groves and vineyards, Matino offers a pleasant breeze, a relaxed pace and a very rich cultural identity.
But what makes this town so special? Here is a small taste of what awaits you.
The charm of the alleys: the "Strittuleḍḍe" and courtyard houses
Walking through Matino's historic centre means getting lost in an enchanted labyrinth. The narrow streets whitewashed with lime, which we call strittuleḍḍe, wind between the traditional "courtyard houses".
Looking up, you will notice more than 130 devotional shrines, testimony to a profound popular faith, while the ancient public fountains will remind you of the times when community life revolved entirely around water.
The underground city: the hypogean olive presses
Matino hides a secret beneath its flagstones: a veritable underground city. Beneath the town lies a vast network of over 100 hypogea, carved directly into the rock.
These cool, stable environments were used in the past as hypogean olive presses for the production of lamp oil, which was then exported from the port of Gallipoli. A must-see example can be found right in Via Vittorio Emanuele!
The village spirit: San Giorgio and the "Bruscia Pajare"
The people of Matino are welcoming but passionate and spirited. It is no coincidence that the historic nickname of the Matino people is "Bruscia Pajare" (haystack burners). The pajara is the typical stone shelter of our countryside; the nickname stems from the idea that Matino people, during arguments, catch fire quickly… just like dry hay!
This passionate spirit is also reflected in their devotion. The patron saint is San Giorgio, celebrated with enormous participation. One of the most fascinating traditions is the auction to win the honour of carrying the statue of the Saint on one's shoulders: an immense spiritual privilege, also linked to the miracle of 1867 in which the wooden statue of the Saint sweated, halting a serious epidemic.
A taste of local life in the "Chiazza"
The social life of Matino pulses in Piazza San Giorgio, which we simply call "Chiazza". It is the perfect place to sit, watch village life unfold and feel part of the community.
If you're in the area, you cannot miss an aperitivo at Murusanza, or a strong coffee at Bar C'Entro, frequented by locals and where you might make friends with Caos, the bar's sociable parrot mascot! And for lovers of genuine flavours, a mandatory stop on Via Addolorata at Panificio La Farinella: for three generations they have been baking wood-fired bread, pucce, frise and artisan biscuits that tell the story of our land.
A preview: the Del Tufo Marchesale Palace
For now we'll give you just a small hint about one of the town's architectural wonders: the Palazzo Marchesale Del Tufo, a 17th-century noble building. We'll only tell you that inside, hidden away, are stables frescoed with the names of horses, paintings of exotic animals and a very refined Baroque courtyard. But about this, our beautiful churches and the more intimate details of Matino, we'll talk in future articles on the blog!
Are you ready to fall in love with Matino?
Our door is always open. At Locanda Tu Marchese we welcome you in the heart of the village to let you breathe the authentic atmosphere of our town, starting the day with an artisan breakfast and ending it with a good plate of ciciri e tria.