The masseria represents a proper agricultural centre in which men are strongly connected to land farming, an economic system of production typical of the countryside of the South of Italy which lasted until the second half of the XIX century.

In the history of the South the masseria was the place which preserved and protected properties and men, the country residence of the owner, to which the owner periodically returned in order to supervise the land activities, or also the villa in which to spend the hot summer months away from the city.

In Salento, starting from the VIII century AD, the threat of the Saracens forced the masserie to create defensive structures. Connected to the look-out towers along the coast and to the castles on the mainland, they were transformed into proper fortresses and actively participated in the defence of the territory while still carrying on their farming activity.

An ancient fortalice inside
the estate