Salento is not only a land of sea and Baroque: it is also a land of intense flavors, Mediterranean scents, and symbols that tell stories of identity and belonging. Among these, the chili pepper – the maru in Salentino dialect – holds a special place, tied to popular culture, architecture, and even legends passed down through generations.

Origins and History of Chili Peppers in Salento

Chili peppers arrived in Europe after the discovery of the Americas, but in Salento they quickly found fertile ground. Grown in rural gardens and in the courtyards of traditional houses, they soon became a key ingredient in peasant cuisine: poor in resources, but rich in flavor.
Not only a condiment: for a long time, the chili pepper was also considered a “natural amulet”, a symbol of protection against the evil eye. In many Salento homes, it was hung on doors or windows, often in strings resembling coral necklaces.

Symbols and Legends

The elongated shape and bright red color made the chili pepper a powerful sign of fertility and vital energy. Folk beliefs held that carrying one in your pocket or hanging a small bunch in the kitchen would keep misfortune away.
In some towns of Salento, chili peppers were even intertwined with garlic and hung under the arches of farmhouses or near wells, as a symbol of protection over food reserves and harvests.

Architecture and the Culture of Chili Peppers

In Salento, chili peppers are not just an ingredient or an amulet: they are part of the architectural scenery of the towns.

• Whitewashed walls and red strings: in courtyard houses and farmsteads, chili peppers were strung in long braids (nzerti) and left to dry on lime-washed walls. This color contrast – the bright white of the stone and the fiery red of the chili peppers – became almost a hallmark of Salento’s urban landscape.

• Courtyards and balconies: in historic houses with loggias or balconies made of Lecce stone, chili peppers were hung like natural ornaments. Sometimes, together with garlic wreaths or olive branches, they formed decorations blending usefulness, protection, and beauty.

• Apotropaic elements: in fortified farmhouses, next to votive niches dedicated to saints or Madonnas, strings of chili peppers could be found hanging on the doors of stables or granaries. They were not only a way to repel insects but also symbolic protection against the evil eye and envy.

The presence of chili peppers in domestic and rural architecture is an identity marker that reveals the fusion of practical function and symbolic meaning.

Legends and Ancient Stories About Chili Peppers in Salento

Chili peppers are linked to many folk beliefs which, although common in Southern Italy, took on unique nuances in Salento:

1. Chili peppers against the “jettatura” (evil eye)
   In Lecce during the 19th century, market vendors always carried a dried chili pepper in their pockets. It was a defense against the jettatura, especially when handling money or closing deals. Even today, many elders keep a bunch of chili peppers near their wallets or hanging in the kitchen.

2. The wedding ritual
   In some villages of the Capo di Leuca, there was a custom of giving newlyweds a string of chili peppers to hang at the entrance of their new home. A symbol of fertility and passion, it was believed to protect the couple and bring prosperity.

3. The legend of the farmer from Ruffano
   A popular tale tells of a farmer from Ruffano who, tired of thefts in his fields, planted rows of chili peppers around his vegetable garden. It is said that thieves, frightened by the fiery burn of the fruit and convinced it had magical powers, stopped coming. Since then, in the town, the chili pepper has been considered a symbol of protection and abundance.

4. Chili peppers and fishermen
   Along the coast, fishermen used to hang bunches of chili peppers on their boats or nets to protect themselves from storms and bring good fortune. Some seafaring tales say that during full moon nights, the red reflections of the hanging chili peppers shone like enchanted lights, a symbolic guide for their safe return home.

A Heritage to Live (Even by Living in It)

The chili pepper, with its energy and vitality, is the perfect metaphor for Salento: authentic, strong, unmistakable.
Those who choose to buy a home here do not just acquire a property, but become part of a living culture, made of flavors, legends, and community festivals. Imagine living in an old courtyard house, hanging strings of chili peppers glowing red against whitewashed walls: a simple detail, yet capable of telling a timeless story.