Abbazia di Santa Maria a Cerrate

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Abbazia di Santa Maria a Cerrate

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Abbazia di Santa Maria a Cerrate, Medieval monastery and museum in Lecce, Italy.

The stone monastery features Romanesque architecture with three naves divided by decorated columns and three apses containing medieval frescoes.

Founded around 1200 by Norman prince Bohemond I of Altavilla, the abbey served as a spiritual center until Turkish pirates attacked it in 1711.

The monastery functioned as a scriptorium where Greek monks transcribed ancient texts while maintaining agricultural production with underground oil mills.

The FAI organization manages the abbey, which received over 30,000 visitors in 2019 and maintains full wheelchair accessibility throughout the complex.

The church capitals display peculiar sculptures combining pig faces with lion paws, while a Byzantine-style fresco puzzle decorates the right nave.

Location: Lecce

Inception: 12 century

Architectural style: Romanesque architecture

Accessibility: Acessível para cadeira de rodas

Phone: +390832361176

Email: faicerrate@fondoambiente.it

Website: https://fondoambiente.it/luoghi/abbazia-di-santa-maria-di-cerrate

GPS coordinates: 40.45859,18.11559

Latest update: May 11, 2025 19:51

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« Abbazia di Santa Maria a Cerrate: Medieval monastery and museum in Lecce, Italy » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

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