FRAZIONE OF THE COMMUNE OF MORCIANO DI LEUCA

Barbarano is the only frazione of Morciano di Leuca. It was probably founded when the Saracens destroyed the near Casale of Vereto  in the IX century. The toponym might come from "barbarians" since Barbarano was built after the destruction of another village razed to the ground by some Barbarians. The Norman king Tancredi of Altavilla gave the small feud to Lancellotto Capece. At the end of the XIII century the centre was governed first  by Scipione Ammirato and later by the Antoglietta family. In the XVII century Barbarano was ruled by the D'Aquinos,  the Nontolios and finally by  the Capeces until  1806. Some of the most well-known local people are Nicola De Giorni (theologian), Antonio Pizzuto (scholar), Ercole Serafino (doctor) and Giovanni Capece (bishop). In the historical centre there is a big XVI-century tower where you can see the sculpture of the noble coat of arms of the Capece family.  The Mother  Church is dedicated to St. Lawrence and it probably dates back to the XVI century. It is very simple and inside the visitor can admire an interesting canvass representing the martyrdom of the saint. The Chapel of St Mary from Leuca of the Belvedere was built in the XVII century and it was erected for the people who went on pilgrimage to the Church of Santa Maria di Leuca. The main facade is stately and well-decorated and inside there are some valuable paintings. Barbarano is also famous for the so-called "vore",  enormous holes in the ground produced through karst phenomena. There are two "vore"  and  the people thought they were a crossing place from the earth to the Hell.