Specchia is 50 Km far from the main city of Salento and in a strategic position dominating the plane;
Specchia historical centre is considered as one of the most beautiful ones of Salento, so that it has been inserted in
“'The most beautiful Italian villages” guide.'The name of the village comes from the word “specchie”, which indicated
an amount of plate rocks (even very big), dating back to the Iron Age, used as a protection and a lock-out place.
As the village was positioned on a hill in a completely plate region, Specchia became a protected place for people living
during the first Middle Age, so that population increased very quickly.
The actual village, neverthless, was born around 1000 and for ages it experienced the power of many families: the
Monteronis, the Orsinis, the Del Balzos, the Guarinis, the Artus, the Protonobilissimos, the De Capuas, the Della Rattas,
the Astores, the Falcones, the Pignatellis, the Ripas and the Risolos, to name just the most important ones, until feudalism
was abolished in 1806. Concerning the artistic point of vue, we can indicate the Risolo counts’ palace, built in the XVIII
century on the ruins of a previous building dating back to the XVI century; the Scoto palace, with its
splendid façade dating back to the XVII century; the subterranean Church; the Black Franciscans monastery, with a church rich
of precious Gothic decorations, Saint Catherine from Alessandria Chapel and a crypt rich of Byzantine frescos.