Alezio

Alezio
Comune
Comune di Alezio
Alezio

Location of Alezio in Italy

Coordinates: 40°4′N 18°30′E / 40.067°N 18.500°E / 40.067; 18.500Coordinates: 40°4′N 18°30′E / 40.067°N 18.500°E / 40.067; 18.500
Country Italy
Region  Apulia
Province / Metropolitan city Lecce (LE)
Government
  Mayor Vincenzo Romano
Area
  Total 16 km2 (6 sq mi)
Elevation 75 m (246 ft)
Population (31 December 2006)[1]
  Total 5,233
  Density 330/km2 (850/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Altini
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 73011
Dialing code 0833
Patron saint Madonna della Lizza
Saint day 15 August
Website Official website

Alezio is a town and comune in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy.

History

Alezio (despite legend assigning its foundation to a king of Crete) was a centre of the Messapi, who would call it Alytia like their former capital in Acarnania. According to Pliny the Elder, the Aletines descended instead from the Iapyges, who descended by the Oscans. It is mentioned as Baletium in the Peutingerian Table (4th century AD). It was a stop on the Via Traiana, who connected ancient Apulia to Rome.

Around the year 1000, Alezio was destroyed by the Saracens, its inhabitants moving to the Gallipoli island. It remained deserted until the 12th-13th centuries, when a church dedicated to Santa Maria della Alizza or della Lizza was built by some Basilian monks. The new Casal d'Alezio, built around it, remained a small village until the 18th century. It was called Villa Picciotti from the 18th century until 1873, when the Messapic name was restored.

Alezio DOC

Within Alezio is a 60-hectare (150-acre) region that produces red and rose DOC wines that are a blend with up to 20% Negroamaro, plus Sangiovese, Malvasia and Montepulciano. Harvest yields are limited to 14 tonnes/ha. The wines are aged for a minimum of 2 years prior to release and must contain a minimum alcohol level of 12.5%.[2]

Main sights

Transportation

Alezio is served by a railway station of the Ferrovie Sud-Est, which also holds several bus services in the area.

References

  1. Population from ISTAT
  2. P. Saunders Wine Label Language pg 119 Firefly Books 2004 ISBN 1-55297-720-X
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