Stone figures emerge from the rocky ground of the Salento countryside, some half-hidden by wild herbs and olive trees. In a quiet, abandoned garden, a local man, known only as ‘Lu Polaccu’, carved these mysterious forms directly from the outcropping limestone over a century ago. Visitors can find a sleeping woman, a skeleton, a crocodile and praying figures scattered among low, dry-stone walls. The artist’s story is the subject of local legend, with some believing he was a Polish soldier who took refuge here, channelling his torments into the stone before his death in the early 20th century. Nearby, the small village itself has a 17th-century church, the Chiesa Matrice, dedicated to San Giovanni Battista. Morigino is a small frazione (a type of parish) of the town of Maglie, in the province of Lecce. From Maglie’s town centre, take the SP36 toward Cursi. The village is located approximately 2km east of Maglie. The sculpture garden is in the countryside nearby; local guidance may be needed to find its exact location as it is not a formal, signposted attraction. Sources: Turismo.it; salentoacolory; La Naturalizzazione d'Italia; Scienze Notizie; Salento il protagonista