Farmhouse via Ippolitis, Centro, Morciano di Leuca

Salento Agency is pleased to present the sale of a beautiful building, a true testimony of the Salento area. Located in Via Ippolitis, the building consists of two parts built at different times; the oldest area dates back to the beginning of the 16th century and consists of a defense tower typical of the fortresses made necessary after the sack of Otranto in 1480 to defend against the continuous Saracen incursions coming from the sea. In essence, this part of the building was part of the fortification plan already put in place in the adjacent Rione Torri, a true theory of fortifying towers with accesses reduced to a minimum and with very narrow stairs such as to allow the defenders to easily repel the attackers . The Tower is intact and occupies the south-west part of the current palace, i.e. the one facing the sea from which the gangs of real raiders came. Broadening our gaze to the entire South of Italy, it is clear that this need for defensive architecture at a local level was part of the grandiose program desired by Emperor Charles V and implemented by his successor Philip II, for the construction of coastal watchtowers and defense against the continuous incursions of the Turks from Abruzzo to Campania, incursions which even continued until the mid-18th century.
The Tower of Palazzo Donnicola still retains two machicolations, one on via Ippolitis and the other on the south façade of the structure, i.e. facing the sea where the Saracen bands arrived.
In later times, presumably between the 16th and 17th centuries, the tower was incorporated, almost encapsulated by the palace, when Via Ippolitis reached its definitive organization, approximately towards the end of the 16th century beginning of the following century, in the period in which the entire eastern wing of Via Ippolitis found its definitive organization. Fortunately everything remained preserved, from the most private rooms to the one intended as a kitchen area enriched by a magnificent period fireplace.
Currently the building, intended for catering, is privately owned.
Careful recovery work has been carried out, from the ancient main entrance door to the ancient Salento vaults.
The entrance is beautiful, highlighted by a magnificent vault adorned with floral designs carved in the typical tufaceous stone. Inside it consists of six rooms on the ground floor with a garden behind it, a beautiful cellar in the basement with a typical barrel vault and a further room on the first floor located at the top of the tower sighting.
The property can continue to be used as a restaurant or it will be possible to request and obtain a change of intended use to a residential building or an accommodation facility.
Obviously all systems comply with current legislation and the property is equipped with connections to public aqueduct, sewerage and methane gas services.
This building is a true jewel of Salento history.
MORCIANO DI LEUCA
Small municipality in Salento, it includes also the beautiful village of Barbarano del Capo and the Torre Vado marina, a tourist destination renowned for its half-rocky and half-sandy coast and for the presence of very fresh freshwater springs. Morciano di Leuca boasts churches with baroque details as well as numerous underground oil mills, some of which can be visited, evidence of the thriving oil economy of the area. Furthermore, one of the towers of the suggestive military castle dating back to the 14th century and having a defensive function is still visible in Morciano. Torre Vado itself takes its name from the presence of a coastal tower, once a lookout, dating back to the 16th century.