The Mother Church is dedicated to St Rocco and it took 34 years to build it , from 1574 to 1608. Its façade has a portal and a huge window both in baroque style. Some of its beautiful altars were carved by Emanuele Orfano, the paintings are attributed to Saverio Lillo and to Giandomenico Catalano. The wooden statue of the saint by a Venetian artist dates to 1879 and is very interesting. Another statue of the saint is close to the church on a column. The Church of St Francis from Paola dates to the 17^th century and was built on the rests of a pre-existing Greek church. The façade has a portal, three niches with statues of saints and a finely decorated window. Inside there are the eighteenth century altars and paintings representing Our Lady and the Miracles of St Francis. The Chapel of St Mary of Constantinople dates to the seventeenth century, it is an aisleless church and is very simple. The Chapel of the Virgin is in Piazza Roma and dates to 1861. Inside the church the tourist can admire the mosaic floor and a painting of the Virgin by Giuseppe Simonelli. The Chapel of St Mary of the Graces and the Chapel of the Daughters of the Charity date to the 19^th century. The Chapel of SS Medici and the Chapel of Our Lady of Leuca date to the 20^th century. The patron saint of Gagliano is St Rocco and the population celebrates him at the end of August.

The nickname of the people of Gagliano is ‘capi vacanti’ which means ‘empty head’. The following legend explain the reasons of this nickname: God and St Peter were creating the world, it was the sixth and last day. St Peter made the shapes of the men, God gave them common sense then life. When they arrived to create the people of Gagliano they realized there was no more common sense left. St Peter suggested to leave them without head but the Creator refused and decided to give them a head even if it had to be .. empty!