Foglio HPart. 094Scala 1:2000
Lecce, Puglia

Specchia

Guided routes beneath Specchia enter the underground olive presses used from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century.

Palazzo Risolo and the pale stone centre of Specchia
Palazzo Risolo in Specchia, Apulia. Lupiae, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped for layout.
Residents
4,453
Region
Puglia
Best time
May to June and September to October. Summer events run into September, but dates change from year to year.

Why it is worth the drive

Beneath Specchia's historic centre, guided visits follow a largely underground route through olive presses built between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries. The below-ground spaces kept the pressing work inside the town's rock and building fabric.

Above ground, the sixteenth-century Risolo Castle faces Piazza del Popolo. The former monastery of the Black Franciscans contains the chapel of Santa Caterina and a crypt supported by thirty-six small columns.

Getting there

Brindisi (BDS) is about 110 kilometres by road. The Miggiano-Montesano-Specchia rail stop is outside the built-up area, so check the current local connection before relying on it.

The honest part

The underground presses are part of a guided itinerary rather than a freely open complex. Contact the local visitor office or Pro Loco for the current departure times before travelling.

Last checked 2026-09-13. Opening hours and festival dates change: confirm with the town before you travel.