Historical Background
In 276 A.C. there was a great Roman victory against the Messapians, guilty of aiding Pirro, who was allied with Taranto in the war for supremacy in the italian south peninsula. The historical tradition recount that Salve was founded during this event on the land that was given to Salvius, a roman centurion, as per the tradition in the division of the lands that were conquered.
Approximately thirty hectares of land, were given to Salvius, where a farm and nearby houses of the colonels and slaves were built , all around a temple dedicated to Giano.

This small centre was founded on friable rocks. This was chosen to allow a better defence and also in order to be able to dig trenches in the rocky walls to creat mills for olive pressing. In the sixth century our country was enlarged with the arrival of refugees from the messapian centers of Cassandra and Casale San Biagio, destructed during the invasion of the Goti, confiscating the lands during the feuding.

Just as old as Salve is the territory that surrounds it. In the Fani locality, traces of human remains have been found that are from the Musteriano period (Spigolizzi) and those of Messapinic of the VI BC (Spigolizzi and "La Chiusa" at Fani farm, S. Lasi farm, Cantoro farm), including the insediments of the Byzantine and Basilians of the X century along the Fani stream. Signs of human prehistoric presence are dolmen, menhir and caves and are somewhat rare on our hills.

Feasts and Festivals
St. Nicholas Magno, Bishop of Mira, is the patron of the community of Salve.
In May, there is a large fair and at the end of July the big feast in his honour, with fireworks, luminous stands and musical bands.
On the 16th and 17 th of July Ruggiano is filled with devoted for the Fair and Feats of St. Marina.
On August 13th and 14th there is the feasts of St. Anthony and Maris Stella with fireworks and procession on the sea at Torre Pali.
There are many festivals with flavours and musical traditions of the Salentine zone, which cover the summer and winter events.