Inhabitants' name: Lequilesi |
The civic coat of arms of Lequile is characterized by a
spread black eagle with a crown on its head. The
background
is light blue. The Menhir ‘Aja della Corte’ dates to the Bronze Age, it is 2,80
m high and was discovered in 1922. Other historic evidences date to the feudal
period and many historian think that the village was founded in the Roman period
by the centurion Leculo who was given that land for the courage he showed
against the enemies of Rome. He built the first house of the village and it grew
from there. As the historians agree on how the village was founded, they have
been discussing on the origin of the name ‘Lequile’. Some scholars think that
the village was named after Leculo, others think that the name would come from
the golden eagle on the coat-of-arms of Leculo’s family. The feudal time began
in the 11th century when the village became part of the Principality of Taranto
and the County of Lecce. In 1291 the village was bought by Ugo di Brienne.
Several families ruled from the 14th century until 1433: the Bonomines, the De
Marcos, the Sambiases, the Santabarbaras and the Marescallos. Later on, Agostino
Guarino, Baron of St. Cesario, bought it from Maria of Enghien. The feud passed
to the Dorias in 1532 and to the Pansas in 1555 then was ruled by the
Dell’Annas, the
Graffogliettis, the Venatos and the Imparatos. The last vassals were the Princes
Saluzzo, they bought it in 1624 but the contract of purchase was registered in
1690. They ruled for two centuries until 1806, when the feudal system was
abolished. Several famous people were born in Lequile: Ezechiele Leandro was
born in 1905, he got married and moved to Africa where he worked as a miner. As
he came back to Italy, be became an appreciated artist especially as sculptor
and painter. The creatures he created were fantastic and monstrous at the same
time as the statues he had in his garden were disquieting and charming. His
works were on show in Rome, Florence, Paris, Lyon and so on. He died in 1981 and
was considered one of the best artists of the Salento. Brother Diego from
Lequile was born in 1605 and became archducal Chaplain in Innsbruck and
chronicler of the Austrian House. He wrote
several
books such as ‘The life of the Virgin’ and died in Rome in 1673. Gioacchino
Stampacchia was born in 1818 and became a skilled doctor and a famous man of
letters. He took part to the ‘Giovane Italia’ and was arrested for this reason.
He wrote the ‘Dictionary of the dialect of Lecce’ and died in Santa Maria Capua
Venere in 1904. Other people from Lequile were: Salvatore Miccoli (mathematician
and architect, 17th century), Brother Silvestre from Lequile (architect),
Brother Nicolò from Lequile (architect), Giuseppe Spedicato (a priest), Oronzo
Rossi (mayor and sculptor), Antonioy Mazzeo (papier-mâché artist), Oronzo
Fortunato Miccoli (painter), Nino Rollo (sculptor), and so on.