Santa Maria di Cerrate Abbey

The Cerrate Abbey was built in the 12th century and quickly became one of the most important monastic centers in Puglia and southern Italy.\n\nThe complex is nestled in the countryside between Lecce and Squinzano. The church is a significant example of Apulian Romanesque architecture. The façade reflects the tripartite division of the interior aisles and is characterized by three rows of pendant arches, two single-light windows, and an ornate rose window. The portal is topped by high reliefs depicting scenes from the New Testament.\n\nOriginally, the interior was entirely decorated with Byzantine frescoes dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, probably the work of Greek masters.\n\nVarious buildings from different eras are scattered around the church, such as the 19th-century monastic house, which houses the Museum of Arts and Folk Traditions.\n\nLegend has it that the Cerrate Abbey was founded following the apparition of the Madonna to King Tancred of Hauteville while he was chasing a doe.