The commune is located in the area called the Valle della Cupa or the Cupa Valley and is situated northwest of the Salentino cape. The terrain is mainly flat and features olive crops as well as fruits and vegetables along with cattle and others.
The origin of the communal name probably comes from the colour "carminium" (red). Another possibility is that it came from a name of the Roman Centurion "Carminius" who was assigned to the Roman Senate; the land at the time was in the area of Salento.
