Andrano
The name of Andrano derives from Sant’Andrea Apostolo elected patron as protector of fishermen since the original main activity was to be represented by fishing., From which the name of Andreano is derived first, then with the elision of the “e” is now Andrano [7]. There is little information available on the ancient site of Andrano Andrano would have been built by the Cretans [1]. On the basis of this historical tradition, the legend of a landing on the Andranese coasts, following a shipwreck, of a group of Greek fishermen who founded the Feronzo farmhouse has stratified over time. These, in an unspecified historical phase, would have moved inland, to a safer place, founding the farmhouse called “Cellino”. In the fifth century after Christ, Salento and Andrano were attacked by Vandals and Barbarians; on this occasion many villages were definitively destroyed, including the Cellino farmhouse. From the ashes of this small urban agglomeration came Andrano. The history of the town follows the history of its castle and the feudal lords who owned it. In the feudal period the hamlet of Andrano was assigned in 1196 to Pietro De Curla from whom it passed to the Rossi family.
From 1341 to 1349 it belonged to the De Castelli; in 1354 it was bought by the Sambiase family and in 1358 by the Capece family. In the fifteenth century it was a fief of the De Hugot (1404), Del Balzo-Orsini (1431), Saraceno (1466) families, the latter ruling it for about one hundred and fifty years. In 1606 the fiefdom became the property of the Spinola family, which the Gallone family took over in 1660. In 1734 it was bought by the Caracciolos who were feudal lords until the subversion of feudalism in 1806; to them we owe the last works to enlarge the castle [10]. Lasetta dei Filadelfi was active in the town from 1817, led by the notary Franceso Saverio Riccio. Andrano has two hamlets: Castiglione d’Otranto and the characteristic Marina di Andrano. The marina extends for about 3 km of coastline, with stretches of cliffs alternating with small beaches. The main beaches are La Botte and Marina della Torre. Of considerable landscape importance is the Belvedere Madonna d’Attarico, from which it is possible to observe a splendid panorama. Here there is a suggestive Byzantine crypt and a singular church in the shape of a ship’s keel, as well as numerous pairs.
