Ceglie Messapica

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Comune di Ceglie Messapica
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Puglia
Province	Brindisi (BR)
Mayor	Pietro Federico (since June 14, 2004)

Elevation	300 m
Area	km²
Population
- Total (as of November 9, 2005)	20,783
- Density	/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates
Gentilic	Brindisini
Dialing code	0831
Postal code	72013

Patron	St. Antony of Padua, St. Anna and St. Rocco
- Day	13 of June, 26 of July and 16 of August
Website: [1]

Ceglie Messapica is a small town located in the province of Brindisi in Puglia region. Ceglie Messapica territory is a typical of the south-eastern Murge hills, particularly rich in nature and historical heritage. The landscape is marked by a series of harmonious elements such as: trulli, farms, lamie (typical southern single room square dwellings), rupestrian churches, carsic caves, dolinas, specchie and paretoni (remains of city walls), dry-stone walls, olive groves, vineyards, woods with maquis, ancient oaks, pasture lands with cattle-farming and fit for seed grounds. Its origins probably are to ascribe to "Cretesi", who founded the ancient "Caelia" (Ceglie). The Messapica centre on developed in VI-III century before christ (a.C.) and probably dialect's origins belonging to a Japigian branch. The most ancient town was located on the top of the hill, where nowadays lies the so called "Piazzetta Ognissanti". Rich of monuments and flowering wide country, surrounded by trulli and estates the town is suitable a flourishing tourism. His restaurants with his gastronomy are known and appreciated not only in Italy but also abroad.