This page lists items in the database related to Italian physician and polymath Girolamo Marciano (b. Leverano, Lecce, Italy, 28 November 1571; d. Leverano, Lecce, Italy 13 May 1628):
Short biography:
Physician and philosopher, Girolamo Marciano was born on November 28, 1571.
In telling his story, doubts are protagonists, as Marciano’s original baptismal register was lost. The historian Giovanni Tarantini and Cosimo de Giorgi tried their best to find more about this critical historical figure: thanks to documents discovered in the Archiepiscopal Archive of Brindisi, the ancient physician’s "Leveranese" identity was eventually confirmed, and up to date Leverano is firmly proud to be associated with this man and his deeds.
Not only was Girolamo an excellent physician: he is stated to have been a sensitive and compassionate human, both toward people and his beloved homeland. Humble yet passionate and deeply devoted to knowledge, Marciano significantly expanded the cultural and scientific memory of Salento. His work ”Descrizione, origini e successi della Provincia d’Otranto" (Description, Origins, and Successes of the Province of Otranto) masterfully blends acute observations on the geography, history and culture of the fascinating land, all infused with the physician’s palpable humanistic sentiment.
Girolamo Marciano studied Medicine at the University of Naples, where he graduated in 1593, to then marry Diamante Miccoli from the nearby town of Veglie, and have numerous children with her. However, by 1609 he reestablished in a permanent residence in Leverano: here he continued to practice medicine, and managed to devote himself to scientific, geographical, and historical investigations, despite the the demands of his large family.
He died on May 13,1628, and was buried in the mother church of Leverano, beneath the altar of the family chapel, known as the "Chapel of Wisdom.”
Along Via Marciano, a street of the ancient Leveranese downtown, stands Girolamo Marciano's birthplace.
On the outside, a commemorative plaque, bearing a tribute to his legacy, honors the physician, philosopher, and writer who so passionately chronicled the glories of the Province of Otranto.
Marciano was a man of humility and deep faith, whose exceptional love for his homeland defined both his life and work. He unfairly faced poverty and lack of recognition in his time, yet his writings endure as a testament to regional identity and intellectual honesty: Marciano subtly ensured his great place in history.