In the heart of Presicce-Acquarica, the Hanging Gardens of Palazzo Ducale become a stage for literary celebration. This rare gem of Renaissance architecture opens its elevated terraces for an evening dedicated to Michele Mainardi's illustrated work, "Sacro di Campagna," a meditation on rural devotion captured through Piero Pascali's evocative drawings.
An Architectural Frame for Words and Images
The Giardini Pensili perch above the historic center, offering a vantage point that frames the rolling countryside of southern Puglia. Stone balustrades and heritage plantings create an intimate atmosphere, where the rustle of ancient olive branches mingles with the murmur of conversation. It's a setting that honors the intersection of art, architecture, and the land itself.
As twilight settles, the palazzo's warm ochre walls glow softly, and the gardens transform into a quiet refuge from the summer heat. The elevated position allows cooling breezes to sweep across the space, making evening events here especially pleasant.
A Journey Through Rural Devotion
Michele Mainardi's narrative explores the small chapels, wayside shrines, and humble altars that dot the agricultural landscape. Piero Pascali's illustrations breathe life into these forgotten sacred corners, many tucked between dry-stone walls or standing sentinel in olive groves. Together, the text and images form a tender homage to a vanishing world of folk Catholicism and countryside rituals.
The author and illustrator often attend these presentations, offering insights into their collaborative process and the fieldwork that took them through remote contrade and sun-baked farmland. Listening to Mainardi recount encounters with elderly farmers and abandoned chapels adds a layer of personal storytelling that printed pages alone cannot convey.
What to Expect at the Evening
- Intimate scale: the gardens' limited capacity ensures a cozy, conversational atmosphere
- Bilingual moments: discussions often weave between Italian and the local dialect, offering a linguistic window into regional identity
- Chance to browse and purchase signed copies of the book after the presentation
- Stunning golden-hour light perfect for photography of both the gardens and the palazzo's façade
- Proximity to the historic center means you can stroll the lanes of Presicce-Acquarica before or after the event
Beyond the Palazzo Walls
Presicce-Acquarica itself rewards exploration. The town is famed for its network of underground olive-oil mills—frantoi ipogei—carved into the limestone bedrock centuries ago. After the presentation, a walk through the baroque centro storico reveals ornate church portals and hidden courtyards draped in jasmine.
The countryside surrounding the town is dotted with the very chapels and shrines Mainardi chronicles. A short drive brings you to the Ionian coast, where Torre Pali and Torre Vado offer crystalline swimming coves, or inland to the fortified farms and watchtowers that once defended against Saracen raids.