Discover Torre Santa Susanna

Get to know Torre Santa Susanna through its buildings, sacred art, and food culture. This gives you different themes to choose from when planning your trip: historic architecture, traces of earlier settlement history, local dishes, and events throughout the year. The following places and traditions offer concrete ideas for shaping your stay around the subjects that interest you.

Architecture and Sacred Art

The Colonna di Santa Susanna was erected in 1837 on the site where the old Angevin tower stood in the Middle Ages. The monument thus connects a 19th-century structure with an older historic site. The Santuario di Santa Maria di Galaso also has a distinctive layout: it is arranged on two levels, and a flight of 13 steps leads from street level down to the sanctuary.

At the Chiesa Matrice, Romanesque façade design is combined with sculptural details. The sculpted lunette depicts the Madonna and Child, San Nicola, and Santa Susanna. Inside, the church has three naves, a massive colonnade, and round arches. Visitors interested in sacred architecture can observe both the design of the portal and the layout of the church interior.

The Palazzo Baronale was built in the 16th century and includes the Cappella della Madonna della Saletta. It is commonly called the Castello because of its battlements. The name refers to the palazzo’s appearance; the chapel is one of the specific spaces associated with it.

The Chiesa di San Pietro o di Santa Maria di Crepacore tells a story of earlier architecture: it was built between the 6th and 7th centuries on the ruins of a Roman villa dating from the time of Augustus. Fragments of frescoes have been preserved in the church; the oldest are dated to the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries. The different dates make the church a place where Roman remains and the history of early medieval art can be considered together. It also serves as a cultural venue for exhibitions, conferences, and concerts; the program may vary.

The basilian crypt of the Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista contains two large frescoes depicting San Giovanni Battista and San Leonardo, as well as an icon of Christ blessing. Both wall paintings and icon paintings are therefore among the artworks preserved in the crypt.

Culture and Events

The Museo Molo is an interactive museum about olive oil and olives, spread across several locations. It opened in 2019. Its theme is connected to an important part of local agriculture. If you are planning a visit, check current visiting options in advance.

The Teatro Comunale is also part of the cultural offering: theatrical performances are staged there in collaboration with the Teatro Pubblico Pugliese. Productions and dates vary, so check the current program if you would like to include a performance in your travel plans.

During Holy Week, the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ is performed every year, with broad participation from the local community. You can check the specific performance dates before your trip. The Festa di San Giuseppe in March includes a public presentation of typical dishes on long tables known as Mattre. Traditional and artisanal crafts, along with local agricultural and food products, are also part of the Fiera di Santa Susanna on May 1. Check the current dates and programs for these events in advance.

Olives, Wine, and Local Cuisine

Olive and wine cultivation together account for more than two-thirds of the cultivated area in Torre Santa Susanna, with olive growing predominating. Olives and olive oil are also a theme at the Museo Molo. Local cuisine offers another way to experience the town’s traditions: it includes homemade orecchiette, tria, pizzarieddi, and laiana, as well as meat dishes such as brascioli, fegatini, marretti, and polpette. These names give you a concrete introduction to traditional dishes without assuming that you will visit any particular restaurant.

Discover more destinations: San Michele Salentino, Fasano, Specchia, San Donaci, Torchiarolo, Carovigno, Lendinuso, Latiano.

For the broader travel overview: Brindisi.