HISTORICAL FACTS

This area was once an object of numerous Corsari Saraceni conquests. From the coast, the Saraceni; also called the “Moors”, penetrated and assaulted the farms and houses. This prompted the local people to fortify their farms (The Masseria Zanzara is a classic example) this pushed Federico II first and then Carlo V after, to build towers along the coast (the Chianca tower, the Lapillo tower, and the Castiglione tower ect.) Elia Salazar, who was a landowner with Spanish origins, built the tower of the Masseria in 1471. His family immigrated to Veglie during the first half of the 1500’s. The horses of Giovanni Salazar were used in the war of Otranto in 1481. The actual name of the Masseria derives, almost surely, from an error in translation (which was frequent In the past). From Salazar to Sazzara to Sanzara to finally Zanzara. In the course of centuries, the msseria has been the property of many different landowners, most recently the barons of Malfatti. .