Galatone

Galatone has a long history, starting from the earliest human settlements in the area, dating back to the Neolithic period. The etymology of the name is uncertain, although it is likely that it comes from greek gala, milk, in reference to farming which has always been practiced in the region. After centuries of raids and occupations by various peoples, such as the Saracens, the Hungarians, the Byzantines, the Turks and the Venetians, Galatone experienced a period of prosperity between the sixteenth and seventeenth century, when it was ruled as a fief by various families, including the Squarciafico, wealthy Genoese bankers. Despite the terrible earthquake in 1743 that destroyed most of the walls of city buildings, Galatone retains many traces of that period. (photo: Porta San Sebastiano, Galatone)