Ceglie Messapica

Ceglie Messapica is a commune in the Province of Brindisi that sits on limestone hills in the Apulian countryside. The settlement shows stone houses with white facades, narrow lanes, and remnants of old defensive walls that spread across multiple levels.

The settlement arose more than three thousand years ago as a center for a pre-Roman people in southern Italy. Later it came under different rulers who built fortifications and churches.

The name comes from the Messapii, a pre-Roman people who settled these hills. The old center preserves its white limestone walls and steep lanes that residents and visitors walk through today.

A railway station on the edge of the commune connects it to larger cities in the region, letting visitors arrive without a car. The old town can be explored on foot, though sturdy shoes help with the paved inclines.

Beneath the surrounding area lie cave systems in the limestone rock shaped by water over thousands of years. These underground spaces hold a cool, steady temperature all year long.

Location: Province of Brindisi

Capital city: Ceglie Messapica

Elevation above the sea: 298 m

Shares border with: Francavilla Fontana, Martina Franca, Ostuni, San Michele Salentino, Villa Castelli

Website: https://comune.ceglie-messapica.br.it

GPS coordinates: 40.65000,17.51667

Latest update: December 13, 2025 15:53