Zollino

Zollino (Greek Tsolino Τζολίνο, Griko Tzuddhinu ) is an Italian commune in the Salento, the Greek-speaking area on the Salento peninsula with 2068 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012).

• 8.1 traffic

Geography

Zollino is located about 18 kilometers south of the provincial capital of Lecce in the center of the area of the nine municipalities that make up the Salento.

Name

On the origin of the name there are different views. A person is considered most likely that the name of Sole Tino ("Little Soleto " ) stems and assumed its present shape over solino and Sollino. According to this theory, which is supported by the same coat of arms of the two communities, Zollino was a founding population Soletos and dependent on this.

According to a second theory, the toponym of a Byzantine family name Tsouli (Greek Tsoli or Tsouli τσούλι " Lump "), which was the name of the landowner of the area is named. Forms such as Zoli, Zūlis, Tsulis, Zulinos are common family name in the area. Other theories are based on Germanic, Norman or Lombard origins of the name.

History

The menhirs of prehistoric settlement Zollino testify in the municipality. The origins of the present-day village lying in the dark. According to the Sun in the coat of arms there are hypotheses about the foundation by settlers of the Lehensguts Apigliano (which had to be abandoned, according to legend because of infestation by countless snakes) or the city Soleto. In ancient times the area of Zollino of some strategic importance as it lay on the trade route from the Adriatic to the Ionian coast. In the Middle Ages the town was long under Byzantine influence, only in 1688 the Orthodox rite in favor of the Catholic in the church was abandoned.

In the Middle Ages Zollino part of the County of Lecce, which was dominated by the family Altavilla. 1190 was invested by Tancred of Lecce Baron Belingherio Chiaromontes with the Hofgut, 1384 Maria d' Enghien was the owner who brought the estate into marriage with Raimondo Orsini del Balzo, Count of Soleto with. When the Count of Orsini ruler of Taranto was reached the place where the Principality of Taranto and was transferred to the Chiaramonte as a fief. In the following years the place was owned by different families ( including Gentile, Alifi, Sarlo, D' Aiello, Saraceno, Simonetta, Gomez omen, Ghezzi, Villa Piana, Granafei, Gaetani, Castromediano, Prato, Frisi, De Leon, De Pietravalida ) to 1806, the feudal system was abolished in southern Italy.

Population

The Catasto onciario of 1746 lists 290 inhabitants Zollinos in 66 units, only 34 of the residents were over 50 years old. Apart from some clergy at that time lived the entire population of agriculture. In 1800, the population had risen to 560 people, rising up in the 1960s continuously to 2,341 (1961 ) until his emigration to Germany and Switzerland, the number dropped to a few hundred. In the 1980s, some of the guest workers returned to their hometown. 2001 the municipality had 2,941 inhabitants, which represents a decrease of 4% compared with 1991. 348 ( 15.86% ) of the population went to a profession, the average of people per family was 2.94%.

Among the 172 family names can be found most commonly Italian, in order of frequency Castellano, Tondi, Pellegrino, Gemma, Verri, Bianco, Chiga, Costa, Calo and Maniglio. Any dissemination of Griko in the community, there are no recent investigations. The number of speakers is back in any case and is expected to be less than one-third of the population.

Twinning

• Sofiko, today the municipality Solygia, Greece
• Terpistea - Greece ( interrupted)

Attractions

In addition to the Palazzo Raho, the Pozzelle, old wells on the edge of the village and the archaeological site of the old Lehensguts Apigliano especially the churches of the village are worth seeing.

Parish church of Santi Pietro e Paolo Apostoli

The church dates from the Byzantine period, even if the exact date of its construction is unknown. First described it was at the beginning of the 16th century. At that time it was a simple hall church with three altars, sacristy and bell tower, which was dedicated to Saint Peter and surrounded by a cemetery. 1608 was started after a visit to the Archbishop with an extensive renovation. A new vestry was built and extended the floor plan to a Latin cross. Even the ornate south facade, which received another portal, dates from this period. The present shape of the entrance facade dates from 1863, 1893, a clock tower and a new Campanile with octagonal tip were added.

Sant'Anna

The Baroque church of 1677 was built on the site of an earlier temple, which had been demolished in the 16th century due to disrepair and in whose ruins they had a picture of Saint Anne found the numerous miracles were attributed. It harbors a finely crafted baroque altar with an altarpiece of Saint Anne and Joachim with Maria as a young girl.

Madonna di Loreto

The small church was built in 1774-1781 outside Zollinos, at the altar can be found under the statue of the Blessed Mother, the year 1665, from which one concludes that was spent this older St. Mary's Church, which was abegreissen at the beginning of the 17th century, here. A fresco of Mary and the blessing Jesus bears the Byzantine pictorial tradition invoice.

Votive column of Saint Peter

The column was at the turn of the 18th century, built on the site of a so-called Osanna, a kreuzbekrönten stone pillar, as they are typical of the Salento. This was located at the site of a ruined church of St. Sophia. On a cubic pedestal rises above a Corinthian column, the figure of St. Peter, which is decorated on the feast day of the saint, June 29, of believers with a flower garland. In the square of the column graves were discovered during excavations, which may be assigned to the old church of St. Sophia.

Underground oil mill

The small oil mill was built at the end of the 17th century and until 1940 was in operation. It has been redeveloped by the municipality, and shows the operations of the oil recovery.

See also

• Menhirs of Zollino

Regular events

At the feasts of the church primarily include the observances of the saints of the various churches, the most important of the city Parton on 22 and 23 August.

On December 28, the Festa de lu focu ( " Festival of Fire " ) is committed. This is a typical wintry festival of lights, in which, by igniting a large fire, a kind of artificial sun is generated. The festival was moved in the 1970s from 17 January to December appointment so that the returning Christmas guest workers could join the party. Together with the Fiesta de lu Mieru in Carpignano Salentino it one of the outstanding popular festivals in Salento.

In the Sagra della Sceblasti, which is celebrated on 2 and 3 August 1996, is a popular celebration around a spicy bread specialty of the place, whose name is derived from the Griko and "without form" means.

Economy and infrastructure

The community is dominated by agriculture until today. The company produces a pea variety ( Pisello Nano di Zollino ) and a type of bean ( Fava di Zollino, Cuccia ) that are officially recognized as typical products of the region.

Traffic

The road of Salento limited to simple country roads, and janissaries intercity buses are an important public transport. Buses connect the city with the Brindisi airport. In addition, is connected with its own railway station on the network of Ferrovie del Sud Est and thus to the Italian railway network. The backward extending from Lecce is divided here into two branches, one leading over Maglie after Gagliano del Capo and Otranto, the other leads to Gallipoli.