Church of St. Peter and St. Paul

Soaring majestically above the heart of the old historic centre of Galatina, covered with its original basalt, the overshadowing church of St. Peter and St. Paul is among the most important churches in the territory, dedicated to the two patron saints of the town. Built in Lecce stone, the late-Baroque church with its spectacular façade, captivates with its rococo triumph of friezes, niches and stone statues. The interior walls are covered with frescoes, among which stands out the one the vault, of the late 19th century, depicting episodes from the life of St. Peter. The rich sacred furnishings boast splendid altars in polychrome marble, like the one in the large old chapel of the sacrament, from the second half of the 17th century, where stands the statue of the Virgin Mary. Of particular value are also the paintings in the church and the sacristy, such as the Washing of the Feet, Jesus walking on water, and the Apparition of the Christ to Peter. Not far away from the church stands the ancient chapel of St. Paul, used for the Greek orthodox rites until the late 15th century, with its Miraculous Well, whose water, according to the legend, had the propriety to heal the women bitten by the tarantola spider.