Welcome to the lands of
Negroamaro.
Welcome to the lands of Negroamaro.
The heart of the LANDS OF NEGROAMARO, Guagnano is the jewel in the crown of the renowned cultivation and production of Negroamaro, the area's signature grape variety.
/ AreFest – 2025
Territory, location and landscape
Guagnano
In the heart of Salento, on a flat plain equidistant from the Ionian and Adriatic Seas, lies Guagnano, conveniently located on the ancient consular road connecting Lecce to Taranto. The municipal area, covering approximately 38 square kilometers, also includes the hamlet of Villa Baldassarri, located about 2 km away and easily accessible via a cycle path.
The protagonists
of a territory
Excellent wines and good food. Guagnano is home to seven wineries producing world-renowned, top-quality wines. Behind every bottle, behind every dish, are the stories of the wineries and people who make this area unique.
RITES AND TRADITIONS
A long
story
The story of a land, the rituals of an ancient tradition. Everything speaks of land, wine, toil, and sweat. A fermented community!
Places to visit
Vineyards as far as the eye can see, fortified farmhouses, places of worship and churches. Historic buildings and monuments. A land waiting to be discovered.
What to do in the
Lands of Negroamaro
EVENTS
Throughout the year, numerous events take place in the Negroamaro lands, testifying to ancient traditions passed down from generation to generation and the bond with the territory.
The last Sunday of January we celebrate St. Anthony the Abbot with the lighting of the traditional bonfire
MARCH 19
To celebrate St. Joseph's Day and Father's Day, traditional "Mattre" are prepared.
A day dedicated to wine tasting and visiting cellars in the Negroamaro region.
The streets of Guagnano's historic center host wine tastings paired with traditional dishes, along with a variety of entertainment. The evenings are rounded out by the Terre del Negroamaro Award and a main musical event featuring nationally renowned guests.
In the lands of Negroamaro, in Guagnano, the Cardinal grape is celebrated, a table grape with a unique flavor.
In Villa Baldassarri, a hamlet of Guagnano, the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated at the beginning of September with the traditional Pig Festival.
Stories of
Negroamaro
Short stories of a region, its traditions, its curiosities, pills of a narrative that runs on the thread of time.
Guagnano's main church is located in the town's central square and is dedicated to the Most Holy Mary of the Rosary. The main façade faces east and incorporates an older church, likely built on the site of the discovery of an image of the Virgin of the Rosary, which allowed the altar to be preserved.
The church dates back to the early 17th century and was built as a chapel dedicated to Santa Maria del Monte Carmelo in an ancient district called Badia Baldassarre, within the forest of Oria. A gathering point and hub of religious life for the settlers and farmers of the Baldassarri fiefdom, it was blessed in 1801, following major restoration and redevelopment of the complex.
Tradition tells a miraculous tale dating back to 1450, according to which a bull, having strayed from the herd, was unexpectedly found in the woods, kneeling in prayer, with a Marian rosary clutched between its teeth and with its right horn pointing to a spot in the thicket where the effigy of the Madonna del Rosario was found, frescoed on the wall of a ruined church unknown to the locals.
In the Negroamaro region, at Villa Baldassarri, you can find a still-living tradition of community ovens, places where people share the tradition of processing wheat and transforming it into typical Salento products.
In the lands of Negroamaro, wine is always accompanied by excellent food. Here, where tradition is still alive and well, you can still enjoy traditional dishes, brought to life by the care and skill of local delicatessens.
The new Negroamaro and Terre d'Arneo Library in Guagnano is a space designed to provide the preconditions for the region and the community to recognize and document, develop, and share an identity of excellence.