Located south of Lecce 22 km from Otranto, Zollino, a treasure trove of history and culture, is a healthy example of a Salento community.
The town is located in the heart of Grecìa Salentina, a geographical area made up of a few towns where the Grika language and Neo-Hellenic culture are still preserved. Careful research and preservation of traditions, carried out by local associations and strongly supported by the administration, is an effort to pass on the culture of the ancient GriKa language to new generations, a language now spoken less and less, along with the preservation of ancient songs and popular lullabies.
The Passion of Christ
In particular, during the Easter period, the griko song “I Passiona tu Cristu’” echoes through the village, with local singers accompanied by the accordion. It is not just a song that celebrates the passion of Christ but above all a symbol of belonging for the people of Zollino. An ancient ritual that brings an intense and moving melody into the homes of Zollino’s inhabitants, with which the singers, temporary stewards of tradition, manage to stir emotions in themselves and others.
The countryside of Zollino
Culture and traditions provide the backdrop for a territory rich in history, to be discovered slowly and with the spirit of a traveler.
The ancient streets with churches and palaces to visit in the historic center then open up to a countryside best explored at a relaxed pace.
Menhir e dolmens should be discovered in the countryside along with the “pozzelle,” ancient cisterns for collecting rainwater. A tour of the countryside must also include a visit to the vegetable gardens, where ancient ecotypes of legumes, local specialties, are still cultivated.
The legumes of Zollino
Among all the legumes, the most famous and important for the local economy, included in the official list of traditional agricultural products of Puglia, are the Zollino dwarf pea and the Kuccia broad bean. These products are the foundation of local cuisine and traditional dishes.
Zollino dwarf pea
The Zollino dwarf pea is cultivated in this small town of Grecìa Salentina. The legume has a yellow-brown color with green shades and is always eaten dried. It is sown before December to be harvested in June. The Zollino dwarf pea plant is not very tall. During the renowned San Giovanni fair held on June 24, the dwarf pea can be purchased along with other legumes from the Salento area.
Kuccia broad bean
The “Fava di Zollino,” called in the small Salento town also Cuccìa (from the Greek Kuamos), it is a De.Co. product. It comes in a larger shape compared to fava beans on the market, flattened. It is sown in November, like other legumes, to be harvested at the end of April or the beginning of May.
Sceblasti of Zollino
Equally good are the excellent baked goods. Along with the classic pucce, definitely to be eaten on the spot is the “sceblasti” of Zollino, a characteristic bread seasoned with tomato, zucchini, onion, and capers. Precisely in honor of Sceblasti, since 1996 a festival of the same name has been held in Zollino at the beginning of August.
