centro storico, di pianura, concentrico, agricolo, Alessano

The oldest core of Alessano perches on the higher ground of the Serra, a compact, elliptical maze of narrow, irregular streets that stand in marked contrast to the modern, linear expansion below. This is a Norman borgo, a fortified hilltop settlement typical of the period, where defence shaped the urban plan. In the 14th century, it was encircled by walls and known as Castrum Leucadense. The name itself may derive from Alexo, to defend, to keep enemies at bay, hinting at an earlier fortification.

The 15th-century castle sits oddly outside the dense medieval fabric, suggesting it was added later when the original core was too congested for such a large structure. The Ducal Palace, which fills one side of Piazza Castello, evolved from a 14th-century defensive nucleus, its growth mirroring the village’s history of feudal overlords: Dalmeto, della Ratta, del Balzo, Gonzaga. Alongside are 16th-century palazzi and the churches of Santissimo Salvatore and Santa Maria Assunta, witness to centuries of shifting power.

Description via source. Coordinates and heritage data from the Atika atlas.