This great coastal municipality of the Brindisi province was founded between the VIII and the IX centuries around the Basilian church of St. Peter in a place called “Vernotico”. In 1300 the University of San Pietro Vernotico was founded by the Mayor together with the Auditors, the Parliament and the Captain. In 1323, the local population rebelled against the Angevin King’s oppression, who consequently exempted St. Peter’s University from paying taxes. The feudatory Bishop built the Square Tower (Torre Quadrata) in 1380, where the feud’s Baron had his base. The Mother Church was built around the year 1400, and was immediately part of the Universitas Sancti Petri Vernotici.
In 1480, the citizens of San Pietro Vernotico repelled the Turks and seized their flag. History goes that the Turkish army led by Achmet Pasha, which had already sacked many adjacent villages, was approaching S. Pietro, but was sighted in time from the top of the “Torre dalle vedette” (the lookout tower). All the citizens participated to the defence of the village and they eventually won the battle against the Barbarians conquering their flag.