Santa Maria dell'Alto a Campi Salentina, Romanesque church in Campi Salentina, Italy.
Santa Maria dell'Alto a Campi Salentina is a Romanesque church situated in open countryside at the border between Cellino San Marco and Squinzano territories. The facade displays a simple gabled roof with a small rose window and a protruding entrance porch decorated with acanthus leaf carvings.
The church was likely constructed between the 13th and 14th centuries, though some scholars suggest an earlier Byzantine-period origin between the 6th and 7th centuries. This uncertainty reflects how architectural features can span different historical periods.
The interior shows three aisles supported by pointed arches on octagonal columns, with white and ochre coloring on the structural elements. This color scheme and geometric layout create a distinctive visual rhythm throughout the space.
The building sits in remote countryside with limited road signs, so careful navigation is necessary. Take time to orient yourself and look for local landmarks to guide your way.
This building shares architectural similarities with the nearby Santa Maria d'Aurio church and Cerrate Abbey. Together these three structures formed part of a medieval communication network across the region.
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