The civic coat of arms of Palmariggi is marked by  a white and  blue background, on which  a leaf of palm is represented. Its  origins are very ancient; in fact, the discovery of a megalithic monument  as the menhir on the hill of Montevergine, proves  the human presence  in very ancient times. The first historical documents date back to  the XIII century, so we have just some hypotheses about the rise of the first urban centre. Since it is pretty near  to Otranto  some researchers think it was originally a  small fort used by the people of Otranto as a  place of sighting and  defence. Its first name was St Nicola this toponym  changed after the raid of the Turks in 1480. People say that this small centre was not invaded by the Turks thanks to the Madonna's help: she appeared with a leaf of palm in  her hand, and she frightened the aggressors so much that they went away. So the new toponym was at first  "Palmarice" and, finally, Palmariggi. The feudal age, in the Salento, started  with the arrival of the Normans but as far as this small centre is concerned the first certain news are about the Angevin time when the feud was given to  Giovanni Garzia De Lombier  Charles I. Later Palmariggi was governed by some noble men as  the Santo Blasios, the Matteis and the Varvassis. The last vassals were the Venturas, who  governed until  1806 when the feudal system was suppressed. Among the most important local  characters there are Spinetto Ventura and  Alessandro Mattei. Both of them  contributed to improve the social and economic conditions of Palmariggi.