Merine is an Italian village and hamlet (''

frazione A ''frazione'' (plural: ) is a type of subdivision of a ''comune'' (municipality) in Italy, often a small village or hamlet outside the main town. Most ''frazioni'' were created during the Fascist era (1922–1943) as a way to consolidate territ ...

'') of the municipality of Lizzanello in the

Province of Lecce The Province of Lecce ( it, Provincia di Lecce; Salentino: ) is a province in the Apulia region of Italy whose capital is the city of Lecce. The province is called the "Heel of Italy". Located on the Salento peninsula, it is the second most ...

, Apulia. As of 2011 its population was of 4,785.

History

Founded in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

, it was part of the County of Lecce until the 13th century, when it became part of the

fief A fief (; la, feudum) was a central element in medieval contracts based on feudal law. It consisted of a form of property holding or other rights granted by an overlord to a vassal, who held it in fealty or "in fee" in return for a form of f ...

of Carovineis. The village came under the control of Montenegro family and, in 1613, of the Palmieri. Urban and demographic growth, started in the last decades of the 20th century and early 21st, was due to its proximity to

Lecce Lecce ( ); el, label=Griko, Luppìu, script=Latn; la, Lupiae; grc, Λουπίαι, translit=Loupíai), group=pron is a historic city of 95,766 inhabitants (2015) in southern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Lecce, the provinc ...

and its urban area. The population, 3,795 in 2001, increased by 1,000 in 10 years.

Geography

Merine is located in the southeastern suburb of Lecce, 2 km from its beltway, 3 from the city and 10 from the

Adriatic Coast The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) ...

. It is part of

Salento Salento ( Salentino: ''Salentu'', Salentino Griko: ''Σαλέντο'') is a cultural, historical and geographic region at the southern end of the administrative region of Apulia in Southern Italy. It is a sub-peninsula of the Italian Peninsul ...

and is 3 km from Lizzanello, 5 from

Cavallino Cavallino (Salentino: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy. Main sights *Mother church (''Chiesa madre''), built from 1630. It has a Baroque-style exterior and a Latin cross plan. * Domi ...

, 6 from Strudà and Pisignano, 9 from Vernole and 13 from

Melendugno 240px, D'Amely baronial Palace. Melendugno (Salentino: or ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy. It is known for its ''marine'', which are bathing beaches on the Adriatic Sea: Roca Vecchi ...

. Nearby the town there are the localities of Erchie Piccolo (pop. 65) and Marangi (pop. 112), both part of Merine.

Gallery

Personalities

* Marco Bianco (1893-1983), general of

Carabinieri The Carabinieri (, also , ; formally ''Arma dei Carabinieri'', "Arm of Carabineers"; previously ''Corpo dei Carabinieri Reali'', "Royal Carabineers Corps") are the national gendarmerie of Italy who primarily carry out domestic and foreign poli ...

References

External links

{{authority control Frazioni of the Province of Lecce Localities of Salento