Melpignano

Melpignano (Griko: Lipignana; Salentino: Merpignanu) is a small town and comune in the province of Lecce in Apulia, Italy. It is one of the nine towns of Grecìa Salentina. Melpignano has a population of 2,209 inhabitants (called Melpignanesi) and an area of 10.93 square kilometres (4.22 sq mi), thus showing a population density of 202,1 inhabitants per square kilometer. The comune rises 89 metres (292 ft) above sea level.

Melpignano
Comune
Comune di Melpignano
Location of Melpignano
Melpignano Location of Melpignano in Italy Show map of Italy Melpignano Melpignano (Apulia) Show map of Apulia
Coordinates: 40°9′N 18°18′E
Country	Italy
Region	Apulia
Province	Lecce (LE)
Frazioni	Castrignano de' Greci, Corigliano d'Otranto, Cursi, Cutrofiano, Maglie
Government
• Mayor	Ivan Stomeo
Area [1]
• Total	10 km2 (4 sq mi)
Elevation	89 m (292 ft)
Population  (November 2008)[2]
• Total	2,221
• Density	220/km2 (580/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Melpignanesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	73020
Dialing code	0836
ISTAT code	075045
Patron saint	San Giorgio
Saint day	23 April
Website	Official website

There are 84 industrial firms employing 474 people who are the 60,69% of the total of the workers. There are 50 service firms employing 165 people who are the 21,13% of the total of the workers. There are also 39 firms employing 89 people who are the 11,40% of the total of the workers. There are also 23 administrative offices employing 53 workers who are the 6,79% of the total of the workers.

The people of Melpignano, alongside Italian, also speak Griko, a Greek dialect. The language, folklore, traditions and history of Calimera, like those of the eight other cities in the area called "Salentine Greece", reveal significant Greek influences over the course of time, presumably from the time of the Byzantine control, or even the ancient Magna Graecia colonisation in the 8th century BCE.