Province of Lecce

Province of Lecce
Province
The Cathedral of Gallipoli.

Map highlighting the location of the province of Lecce in Italy
Country  Italy
Region Apulia
Capital(s) Lecce
Comuni 97
Government
 • President Antonio Maria Gabellone
Area
 • Total 2,799.07 km2 (1,080.73 sq mi)
Population (30 June 2016)
 • Total 802,807
 • Density 290/km2 (740/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code 73001-73100
Telephone prefix 0832, 0833, 0836
Vehicle registration LE
ISTAT 075
Torre Sant'Andrea
Torre dell'Orso beach.
Salandra square in Nardò.

The Province of Lecce (Italian: Provincia di Lecce; Salentino: provincia te Lècce) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Lecce. The province itself is called the "Heel of Italy".[1] Included entirely in the Salento peninsula, it is the second most populous province in Apulia and the 21st in Italy.[2]

It has an area of 2,799.07 square kilometres (1,080.73 sq mi) and a total population of 802,807 (2016). There are 97 comunes (Italian: comuni) in the province. It is surrounded by the provinces of Taranto and Brindsi in the northwest, Ionian Sea in the west, Adriatic Sea in the east.[3] This location has established it as a popular tourist destination. It has been ruled by the Romans, Byzantine Greeks, Carolingians, Lombards, Arabs and Normans.[4] The important towns are Lecce, Gallipoli, Nardò, Maglie and Otranto.[5] The important agricultural products are wheat and corn.[6]

History

The province of Lecce has its origins in the ancient Giustizierato, then the Province of Terra d'Otranto. Since the eleventh century the Terra d'Otranto included the territories of the provinces of Lecce, Taranto and Brindisi (with the exception of Fasano and Cisternino). During this time the current region of Lecce was severely affected by poverty despite the production of olive oil.[7] People from Lecce migrated to the Province of Bari where they worked in the wine industry in order to earn their living.[8] Up to 1663 the Province of Terra d'Otranto also included the territory of Matera (Basilicata). Its capital was at first Otranto, but in the Norman period (twelfth century), Lecce was made the capital. After the unification of Italy, the name of Terra d'Otranto was changed to Province of Lecce and its territory was divided into the four districts of Lecce, Gallipoli, Brindisi and Taranto. Its break-up began in 1923, when the district of Taranto was transformed into the new province of the Ionian.[9] After the first world war the economic condition worsened and unemployment reached its height. These factors coupled with the negligence of the weak government prompted the farm workers to revolt against their farm owners. After being captured the farm owners were paraded in public places.[10] During the medieval era, Muslim slaves were transported from the ports located in the province and the practice of keeping slaves was common.[11] Lecce stone extracted from the province has been used in decorating several historical monuments and is widely used in interior decoration.[12]

Main sights

Natural Reserve of San Cataldo is located in the province.[13] Lakes Alimini Grande and Alimini Piccolo are also located in the province.[1]

Communes

Lecce has several ethnic and linguistic minority groups. A Griko community of around 40,000 lives in the Grecia Salentina region in the central area of the province, with an Arbëreshe community in Soleto.

Commune Population
Lecce 95,411
Nardò 31,442
Galatina 26,887
Copertino 24,113
Gallipoli 20,264
Casarano 20,169
Tricase 17,621
Galatone 15,528
Surbo 15,190
Trepuzzi 14,757
Leverano 14,283
Maglie 14,196
Squinzano 14,100
Veglie 13,947
Monteroni di Lecce 13,925
Cavallino 12,787
Taviano 12,698
Taurisano 12,668
Ugento 12,327
Carmiano 12,307
Lizzanello 11,926
Matino 11,444
Racale 11,011
Campi Salentina 10,351

References

  1. 1 2 "Province of Lecce". Understanding Italy. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  2. ↑ "Statistiche demografiche ISTAT" (in Italian). demo.istat.it. 2009-12-30.
  3. ↑ Domenico 2002, p. 26.
  4. ↑ Domenico 2002, p. 27.
  5. ↑ Domenico 2002, p. 28.
  6. ↑ Macgregor 1843, p. 1171.
  7. ↑ Gentilcore 1992, p. 28.
  8. ↑ Cinel 2002, p. 181.
  9. ↑ "R.D. 2 settembre 1923, n. 1911 - Istituzione della provincia di Taranto" [R.D. September 2, 1923, n. 1911 - Establishment of the Province of Taranto] (in Italian). G.U. di pubblicazione. 21 November 1923. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  10. ↑ Snowden 2004, p. 163.
  11. ↑ Mikropoulos, p. 138.
  12. ↑ Cassar & Winter 2014, p. 140.
  13. ↑ "Lecce, Apulia". ITALIA. Retrieved 24 September 2014.

Sources

  • Cassar, J.; Winter, M.G.; Marker, B.R.; N.R.G. Walton; D.C. Entwisle; E.N. Bromhead; J.W.N. Smith (2014). Stone in Historic Buildings: Characterization and Performance. Geological Society of London. ISBN 978-1-86239-376-9.
  • Cinel, Dino (2002). The National Integration of Italian Return Migration, 1870-1929. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-52118-5.
  • Domenico, Roy Palmer (2002). The Regions of Italy: A Reference Guide to History and Culture. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-30733-1.
  • Gentilcore, David (1992). From Bishop to Witch: The System of the Sacred in Early Modern Terra D'Otranto. Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-3640-8.
  • Macgregor, John (1843). Commercial Statistics: A Digest of the Productive Resources, Commercial Legislation, Customs Tariffs ... of All Nations, Including All British Commercial Treaties with Foreign States ... Nott.
  • Mikropoulos, Tassos A. Elevating and Safeguarding Culture Using Tools of the Information Society: Dusty traces of the Muslim culture. Earthlab. ISBN 978-960-233-187-3.
  • Snowden, Frank M. (2004). Violence and the Great Estates in the South of Italy: Apulia, 1900-1922. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-52710-1.

Coordinates: 40°21′7.24″N 18°10′8.9″E / 40.3520111°N 18.169139°E / 40.3520111; 18.169139

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