|
|
| Inhabitants’name: Sancassianesi |
The civic coat of arms
of San Cassiano has a blue background and it represents a palm and two letters
"S"
 and
"C." Until 1975 it was a small village under the
administration of Nociglia. Some historians think it
was founded in the X century while for others it was built in the X century
after the destruction of the near village Muro Leccese. In fact, the survivors
who had managed to escape from Leo III Isaurico's persecutions took refuge to
these lands. These poor people were led by a wise and noble-minded man to this
territory. He also founded the Abbey of St. Vittore in Marsiglia and he was
proclaimed saint when he died, so the village was named after him. During the
feudal age the Norman king Tancredi incorporated the feud into the County of
Lecce. Later it was annexed to the Principality of Taranto and governed first by
Raimondello Orsini del Balzo and then by his son Giovanni Antonio. After 1463
San Cassiano was ruled by the D'Orias, the Panzas and the Lubellos.
The last feudal vassals were the Frisaris, that governed until 1806. Some of
the most important local people are Father Giuseppe from San Cassiano, who was
head of the Order of the Minor Observant Friars, and Giuseppe Monteduro. The
latter was born in 1818, he took part in the Second World War and he taught at
the school of his own village.
|
