Matino is an enchanting town located in the heart of southern Salento, in Puglia, among the Serre Salento, where the hill of Sant’Eleuterio rises majestically. This picturesque location offers visitors an authentic and immersive experience.
While you explore Matino, you will be fascinated by the vast lands cultivated with olive trees and vines that surround the village. These fields are the tangible expression of the local agricultural tradition, a tradition handed down from generation to generation which is reflected in the aromas and flavors of the local delicacies.
If you are looking for anauthentic place in Salento, Matino is the ideal choice. In this article you will discover where it is located, its history, what to see, the nearby beaches and restaurants.
Where is Matino located?
Matino is located on the hill called Sant’Eleuterio, positioned on the last extensions of the Salento greenhouses, dominating the landscape at 75 meters above sea level . Its fascinating historical core is wrapped between two spectacular ancient karst canyons, known as “Universo” to the north and “Royal” to the south.
Matino borders to the north with Parabita, to the east with </span >Collepasso, while to the south it shares its borders with Casarano, Melissano and Taviano.
The position of Matino is truly privileged, as it is located about 10 km from the splendid Ionian coast and just 40 km from the suggestive Capo di Leuca.
How to get to Matino?
There are several ways toget to Matino, let’s look at them together:
- By car: Take the motorway to Bari and then follow the SS 16 towards Brindisi-Lecce. Subsequently, before entering the town center of Lecce, take the ring road towards Gallipoli and exit at Gallipoli. Then continue on the SS 274 until the Matino-Taviano exit and continue up to Matino.
- By train: Trenitalia offers a good rail connection to Lecce station and other Italian cities. Once you have arrived in the Salento capital, it is possible to reach Matino using interurban bus lines or by taking the train on the Lecce-Gagliano line via Novoli of the Sud-Est railways.
- By bus: From the city of Lecce, it is possible to reach Matino via interurban bus lines. In summer, the Salento bus service is active which allows you to reach Matino with the 102 Gallipoli-Maglie line.
- By plane: The closest civil airport is Brindisi, located approximately 90 km from Matino. From Brindisi, it is possible to continue via bus lines to Lecce and from here reach Matino using local bus lines or trains.
History
Matino is mentioned for the first time as a permanently occupied center in 1099, according to the oldest historical document found. During the Norman era, in 1191, the Matinese territory was granted as a fief by Tancredi d’Altavilla to the De Persona family. The first baron of Matino was Filippo De Persona, followed by Gervasio De Persona and his son Glicerio, both devoted to Frederick II and the Swabian dynasty. These two characters played roles of great importance in medieval history, holding the positions of Imperial Judge and Justiciar of Capitanata respectively.
After the defeat of the Swabians in favor of Charles of Anjou at Tagliacozzo, the government of Matino passed to the Angevins with Giovanni di Tillio. However, in 1378, the old rulers returned to possession of the fiefdom with Ludovico De Persona, also known as Lisolus de Matino, loyal to the Aragonese. This situation remained unchanged until 1575, when Annibale De Persona, last baron of Matino, granted his only daughter in marriage to Mario Del Tufo. Thanks to the marriage, the latter took possession of the fiefdom, becoming its new lord.
Matino Puglia distance from the sea?
As we were saying, Matino, located in the Salento hinterland, is just a few kilometers from the Ionian coast and some of the most beautiful beaches in Salento . In particular, it is 16 km from Gallipoli, 11 km from Punta della Suina b>, 15 km from Marina di Mancaversa, </span >14 km from Torre Suda, 20 km from Torre San Giovanni. However, even reaching the Adriatic is not that complicated.
The beaches of Matino
If you are looking for arelaxing and at the same time authentic holiday, if you want to experience the tranquility of the villages without giving up the sea, Matino is the perfect destination!
This location, as already mentioned, is a few kilometers from the Ionian coast and allows you to visit many Salento beaches, each with its own charm and unique characteristics.
- One of the most renowned beaches in the area is Punta della Suina, with its stretch of sandy coast mixed with some low rocks, crystal clear sea and lots of vegetation. This beach is surrounded by lush nature and offers a quiet and relaxing environment. It is perfect for those who want to enjoy the sun and take a refreshing swim in clear waters.
- For those who love long stretches of sand, the beach of Torre San Giovanni is a must. A magical place with Caribbean colors and shallow waters perfect for families with children.
- If you are looking for a livelier environment with various activities, the Baia Verde beach</b > is the perfect place. This beach is famous for its lively atmosphere, with bars, restaurants and beach clubs offering entertainment and services to spend carefree days in the sun. Baia Verde is also known for its beach parties, ideal for younger people or for lovers of nightlife.
- Lovers of long walks by the sea will be fascinated by the beach of Torre Mozza, which extends for kilometers along the coast and offers a wild and almost uncontaminated scenery, ideal for romantic walks at sunset.
- Furthermore, the strategic position of Matino will allow you to explore other famous Salento locations such as Gallipoli< span style=”font-weight: 400;”>, Castro, Santa Maria di Leuca and many other locations.
What to see in Matino Lecce?
Matino is one of the Authentic Villages of Italy , a little gem that has retained its essence and authenticity. In Matino the historic centre, very well preserved, responded well to specific social, cultural and defense needs. You can see a series of courtyards, alleys and apparently dead-end streets, where escape routes, sometimes imaginative, are often hidden. In particular, the courtyard served as a meeting place and neighborly relationship, defense system, wash house and water supply. But what to see in Matino?
- Matino Palazzo Marchesale “Del Tufo”: One of a kind in Salento, dating back to 1500, now owned municipal, with the surrounding Piazza San Giorgio. It features a balustraded three-light window overlooking the ancient square and inside a beautiful stable with frescoed walls and niche-shaped mangers.
- MACMa Museum (Museum of Contemporary Art): Housed largely in the Marchesale Palace, it represents a mix of the maximum expression of democracy and art, from ancient to contemporary.
- Matrix Church of San Giorgio: The oldest monumental testimony, of sixteenth-century origin, presents a large and elegant Latin cross nave with eight imitation marble altars, finely decorated in Baroque style.
- Church of the Crucifix: Dating back to the sixteenth century, it has an important artistic value.
- Church of Addolorata: Dated 1738, it presents notable artistic characteristics.
- Dominican Convent “S.Maria del Soccorso“: A historic building which also housed the municipal and school headquarters .
- Church of the Rosary: Contains beautiful eighteenth-century paintings.
- Church of the Madonna del Carmine: Built in the 17th century to house an image of the Madonna and Child from the Byzantine era . It features a baroque altar and a nineteenth-century mosaic floor, with an interesting painting of the Pietà in the Sacristy, painted in 1621, directly on the rock.
- Arco della Pietà: A true symbol of Matino, built entirely of tuff and with a quadrangular plan. It leans against the Church of the Pietà, built around 1600, with a wooden door embellished with twenty panels decorated with vegetal motifs and enriched interiors. with splendid frescoes.
Restaurants in Matino
The restaurants in Matino offer an authentic and satisfying gastronomic experience, characterized by unique flavors and typical dishes of Salento cuisine, in a particular way. Here are some placeswhere to eat in Matino:
- Danilo Osteria Creativa
- Vinhà – Trattoria – Vineria – Sala Eventi
- Foscolo Ristorante
- A Locanda Tu Marchese
