{"id":41984,"date":"2024-03-20T14:02:49","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T14:02:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/borgagne-where-it-is-how-to-get-there-what-to-see-2024\/"},"modified":"2025-03-08T12:40:03","modified_gmt":"2025-03-08T12:40:03","slug":"borgagne-where-it-is-how-to-get-there-what-to-see-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/en\/borgagne-where-it-is-how-to-get-there-what-to-see-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Borgagne: where it is, how to get there, what to see"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among the gentle countryside of Lecce, an authentic jewel is hidden:<\/span><b> Borgagne<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, one of the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.borghiauthenticiditalia.it\/borgo\/borgagne-fraz-di-melendugno\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <b>Authentic villages of &#8216;Italy<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This enchanting corner of Puglia, with its narrow cobbled streets and picturesque house facades, embodies the timeless charm of the villages ancient. Borgagne is, in fact, a hidden treasure that reveals the richness of local culture and history, offering visitors an unforgettable journey through the past and tradition. In this article, we will explore the beauties of Borgagne, revealing its best kept secrets and discovering why this village is an unmissable stop for those who wish to immerse themselves in the true essence of Salento<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-36494 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Presentazione_Borgagne.jpeg\" alt=\"Wikipedia photo\" width=\"700\" height=\"467\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<h2><strong>History<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>origins of Borgagne date back to the<\/b><b>14th<\/b><b> century<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, when it was founded by the Basilian monks, who were fleeing from the persecutions of the Isaurian Emperor Leo III.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Basilians built some crypts, today visible on the Caliani hill, and a first inhabited center arose around these small places of prayer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the Middle Ages, Borgagne changed hands among several noble families, including the Stendardo, the De Iserio and the Petraroli. It was the latter family who had the original nucleus of the castle of Borgagne built in 1497, to defend the town from the incursions of the Turks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1616, the &#8220;State of Borgagne&#8221;, which also included the hamlet of Pasulo and the fiefdom of San Salvatore, was purchased by the Spinola family.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Borgagne remained in a certain immobility. The population was mainly made up of farmers, and the town was at the center of a large citizen mobilization for a bad redistribution of state lands.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1860, a new square was built in front of the Mother Church on an underground crypt from the Byzantine period.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the fascist period, the surrounding marshes were reclaimed, and since then the town has seen strong regrowth, especially after the 1960s.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7MM0MNqwdQc?si=G_nxKKJDeJAFs6Da\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Where is Borgagne located?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><b>Borgagne, an authentic village, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is located in the heart of Salento, in the province of Lecce. Its strategic position places it a short distance from important historical centers in the area. Lecce, renowned for its Baroque architecture, is nearby, offering a fascinating cultural context. The distance between Borgagne and Lecce is easily traversable, allowing visitors to explore the beauty of the city and immerse themselves in its rich artistic history. Furthermore, Borgagne is a few kilometers from another wonderful pearl of Salento, Otranto, overlooking the Adriatic Sea. For this reason, Borgagne is an ideal starting point for exploring the cultural and natural wonders of the Salento region.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Borgagne &#8211; Lecce distance: 26 km<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Borgagne &#8211; Otranto distance: 22 km<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>How to get to Borgagne?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best way to <\/span><b>reach Borgagne<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is by own car or we recommend to rent one, as connections are not always guaranteed. However, there are several options to <\/span><b>get to Borgagne<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>By car:<\/strong> if you travel from the north, to<\/span><b>get to Borgagne by car <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you need to take the A14 motorway to Bari, continue on the highway towards Brindisi and continue towards Lecce. From there, follow the signs for the SS16 Adriatica towards Otranto. After approximately 20 kilometres, take the exit for Borgagne. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>By bus:<\/strong> From Lecce, it is possible to take the bus for the Lecce &#8211; Melendugno &#8211; Borgagne route of &lt; \/span&gt;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lefrecce.it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FSE<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or if you travel in summer you can check the timetables of <\/span><b>Salento by Bus<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>&lt; \/li&gt;<br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>By train:<\/strong> The <\/span><b>nearest train station to Borgagne<\/b>&lt; span style=&#8221;font-weight: 400;&#8221;&gt; is that of Lecce. From there, you can take a taxi, rent a car or take a bus to reach the town.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>By plane:<\/strong> The<\/span><b>nearest airport to Borgagne is Brindisi&lt; \/b&gt;<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, about 80 kilometers away. From the airport, you can rent a car for greater travel flexibility, or take the train, taxi or bus and continue as mentioned above. <\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>How far is Borgagne from the sea?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Borgagne is located a few kilometers from the Adriatic coast, the closest sea is that of Sant&#8217;Andrea, only about 8 km away. Among the most beautiful beaches in Salento near the village of Borgagne there are: Torre dell&#8217;Orso at 12 km, Roca at 15 km, San Foca at 13 km, Alimini at 8 km and Otranto at 22 km.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>What are the inhabitants of Borgagne called?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><b>The inhabitants of Borgagne are called Borgagnesi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In Salento dialect, however, they are called &#8216;ngracalati, which is an onomatopoeic term that recalls the croaking of frogs, which are very present in the countryside around the town.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>What to see in Borgagne?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you looking for advice on<\/span><b>what to see in Borgagne?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Here are our suggestions for exploring the small village of Salento steeped in history and culture:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Church of the Presentation of the Lord<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Church of the Presentation of the Lord<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reveals its sixteenth-century majesty with a apse part dating back to 1584 and a Neretino portal from 1611. The interior, with a single nave, four altars and paintings of notable artistic value, has recently been restored, bringing to light its ancient splendors.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_36498\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36498\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-36498 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1024px-Chiesa_Madre_di_Borgagne.jpg\" alt=\"borgagne\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" title=\"\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-36498\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Foto di Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Church of the Madonna del Carmine<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Church of the Madonna del Carmine<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, built in 1619, enchants with its simple facade and interior which perfectly embodies the spirit of Salento Baroque<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The main altar from 1658, with the statues of Sant&#8217;Agata and Santa Lucia, creates an atmosphere of devotion and art.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Semi underground oil mill &#8220;Sciurti&#8221;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Borgagne boasts a unique historical heritage, including the <\/span><b>Sciurti semi-underground oil mill,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> part of a structure dating back to the 16th century. This oil mill consists of a building on the first floor with evident remains of fortified elements. In the main room, five hydraulic presses and an engine are flanked by a tank for storing oil, a central well for collecting milling waste and a tank dedicated to the milling itself.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_36495\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36495\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-36495 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads \/2024\/01\/Chiesa_Madonna_del_Carmine_in_Borgagne.jpg\" alt=\"what to see borgagne\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" title=\"\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-36495\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wikipedia photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Courtyard houses<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>characteristic &#8220;courtyard houses&#8221; of Borgagne<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, dating back at least to 16th century, they are buildings composed of at least two residential units overlooking a central courtyard, which represented the fulcrum of the daily and working activities of peasant families. Even today, the sixteenth-century &#8220;tower houses&#8221; are present, and one of them has been recently restored, with a corner column, remains of fortified elements and a crowning with hanging arches of considerable decorative value.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_36496\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36496\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-36496 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Casa_a_corte_Borgagne.jpg\" alt=\"borgagne case a corte\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" title=\"\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-36496\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Foto di Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_36497\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-36497\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-36497 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Casa-torre_Borgagne.jpg\" alt=\"borgagne case torre\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" title=\"\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-36497\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Foto di Wikipedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><strong>Farms<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the 16th century, with agriculture and pastoralism predominant in Borgagne, <\/span><b>farms began to develop<\/b><span style=\"font -weight: 400;\">, some of which were towers or fortified, with the tower building as a reference point for company activities and above all as a defense tool. Le <\/span><b>masserie Nuova<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Sbotta<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Porcaccini<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are significant examples of this defensive system, which protected a territory crossed by an important road axis that led to Otranto, passing through Roca Nuova.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Borgagne Castle<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>historic center of Borgagne<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is embellished by the presence of the &lt;\/span &gt;<b>Petraroli Castle<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, built in 1497 by Belisario Petraroli and completed in 1531. This square-plan castle develops on two floors around an internal courtyard and is surrounded by a vast garden which occupies the space originally intended for a moat.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Borgagne olive tree<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><b>Borgagne houses one of the oldest olive trees in Italy, perhaps even the oldest.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Framed by other monumental plants, this majestic tree is striking for its beauty of the trunk&#8217;s features and the rich symbolism it contains. The olive tree contributes to the production of the Dop Terra d&#8217;Otranto extra virgin olive oil. This exceptional example of longevity, the result of the work of the Basilian monks dedicated to the cultivation of olive trees, compares with other centuries-old trees in Salento, such as the<\/span><b>Ulivo Titano in Felline<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the<\/span><b>Quercia Vallonea in Tricase<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the<\/span><b>Ogliarola Leccese &#8220;The Queen&#8221; in Vernole. <\/b><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Where to eat in Borgagne?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This little jewel offers not only an authentic and welcoming atmosphere, but also a wide culinary offering that reflects the <\/span><b>Salento gastronomic tradition<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Here are our tips on <\/span><b>where to eat in Borgagne<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unico Home Restaurant<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rosti Pizza Peccati di gola<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BIG MAMA<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mamba grill and sound<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Panini Famosi<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Among the gentle countryside of Lecce, an authentic jewel is hidden: Borgagne, one of the Authentic villages of &#8216;Italy. This enchanting corner of Puglia, with its narrow cobbled streets and picturesque house facades, embodies the timeless charm of the villages ancient. Borgagne is, in fact, a hidden treasure that reveals the richness of local culture [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":41703,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_glsr_average":0,"_glsr_ranking":0,"_glsr_reviews":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[93],"tags":[100],"class_list":["post-41984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-location-guides","tag-localita-en"],"acf":[],"acfml_non_translatable_locations":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41984"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41984\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41703"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hdsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}