Madonna della Greca

About

The Church of Madonna della Greca is the oldest church in Locorotondo, Apulia, Italy, and it is completely dedicated to Santa Maria della Greca. It was first built between the 7th and 8th century and then reconstructed in the 15th century.

History: The current structure was supposedly built outside the walls of the town in 1481 on the initiative of Pirro Orsini del Balzo, prince of Taranto; the decision of building it extra moenia was related to the lack of available land in the urban enclosure which is very narrow in itself. The church's name of Santa Maria della Greca suggests the presence of the Greek Orthodox rite in Locorotondo; the dedication is a memory of the Marian cult of the countries of origin of the refugees. Other existing churches in the area have a similar title: the oldest seems to be the ecclesia Sancte Marie Grece of Mesagne, mentioned in a document dated 1 October 1260.

Description: Despite the several changes the church went through in the course of time, it maintains a medieval gothic-style plan in its interior and a medieval simpleness in its exterior. The front is bell-shaped with side weatherings which recall the inner division into a nave and two...