The civic coat of arms of Gagliano has a chicken that fights with a snake. We are not certain about the origin of this village. it was probably founded by those who survived from the sacking of the Hamlets Misciano and Plusano who went to live in this area. Other scholars think that village was founded by the Roman centurion Gallo who was given this land for the success he achieved on the battleground. He built a house for himself and his soldiers then the village grew bigger and bigger. Mr Arditi thinks that when Leuca was attacked the fugitives went to Gagliano because it is not on the coastline. The village followed the Byzantine tradition from the 6^th to the 11^th century and the Greek religious rite was followed until the 17^th century. The Normans came in the 11^th century and the Historic documents date to the Angevin period. From the 13^th to the 15^th century the village was ruled by Isolda De Nocera, Guglielmo Brunella, Teodorico Blasio, Ferdinando D’Aragona, and the Castriota Scanderbegs. In the 17^th century the village was bought by Laura Guarini and this was the last family to rule the village. Among the famous people from Gagliano we remember: Laura Daniele was born in 1904, she was clever and kind person. She was the President of a religious association and died in 1940.  Domenico Colaci was born in 1885 and , after the secondary school became a famous journalist. He died in 1963. Giustiniano Lotto lived in the 16th or the 17^th century and was the first priest to use the Latin religious rite. A street of Gagliano is named after him. Niccolò Maraschio lived in the 16th or the 17th century, he was specialized in Greek and also a good poet. Francesco Saverio Mercaldi was born in 1844, he studied in the Academy of Rome then became a brilliant painter. He worked also in many churches of the Salento. Another great painter was Vincenzo Ciardo, he was born on October 25^th 1894 and died in 1970. his works are now in several Italian and European Museums.