Chiesa del Cristo, church building in Brindisi, Italy
The chiesa del Cristo is a 13th-century church in Brindisi completed in 1232 and displaying Romanesque features. The building has a plain facade made of two-toned stone with white and golden limestone, a large round window above the entrance, and a single nave inside where two Baroque altars remain.
The church was founded in 1232 by Dominican Nicola Paglia and was part of a complex with a convent that closed in 1813. Between the 15th and 16th centuries, the apse was reduced and the choir demolished to strengthen city defenses near Porta Lecce.
The church takes its name from the Crucifix and displays Romanesque features that remain visible today. The single-nave interior reflects the religious simplicity typical of Dominican buildings.
The church sits in the center of Brindisi and is easily reached while walking through the old town. The interior is straightforward and can be visited without spending much time finding your way around.
Inside is a wooden crucifix from the 12th century that according to legend arrived from Egypt on a Venetian ship but became too heavy to move back on board. Local tradition says only one finger of the crucifix was taken to Venice.
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