WITH THE FREE PATRONAGE OF
CARNEVALE DI PUTIGNANO
CHURCH OF SAN PIETRO APOSTOLO
Putignano a history you don't expect
Church of Santa Maria La Greca (XII century)
The church is located on the road axis that connects the two main access gates to the ancient village. The first information dates back to 1365. The building has undergone many transformations over the centuries so as to distort its original appearance: in 1771, the plant was transformed into a Greek cross with a dome in the center, the planking and beams of the ceiling of the central nave and above all the Baroque facade was created, with alternating concave and convex surfaces, still visible today.
The bell tower, from 1669, was rebuilt in 1899. Inside, the building houses a valuable Byzantine icon, from which the church takes its name and a precious reliquary dating from the late 12th to the first half of the 13th century containing a fragment of the head of St. Stephen: the events concerning the sacred effigy and the reliquary appear unclear; however, tradition believes that the two artifacts were transferred from Monopoli (the icon has similarities with the Madonna della Madia preserved in the Monopoli cathedral), continually threatened by the danger of Turkish raids.
The presence of the relic of Saint Stephen gave rise to the cult of the Saint Protomartyr who, elected protector of the town in 1646, is still solemnly celebrated today on August 3, the only day on which the precious reliquary is carried in procession and exposed to the public.
Inside the church, in addition to the marble altar where the statue of Saint Stephen is placed, it is possible to admire two other richly decorated altars. Also of great interest is the high altar, in inlaid polychrome marble, which harmonizes with the upper chapel which is accessed via two stairways. In the deposits of the church, a valuable wooden work has recently been found. In a marble bas-relief, from the mid-1700s, the Trinity is depicted, present at the base of one of the beautiful eighteenth-century altars of the Neapolitan school.
As part of the initiative "let's adopt a work of art" recovery and restoration of works of art
The Lamentation of Santa Maria la Greca in Putignano
descriptive intervention by prof. Giacomo Lanzillotta
From oblivion to light
thought on the Pietà by Prof. Vito Intini
This website project born from the idea of Gianni Musaio is enclosed in a team spirit and is the result of the collaboration of people, ordinary citizens, who care about the historical, cultural, artistic, geographical, food and wine heritage of the historic center of Putignano, a town in to live.
The historic center of a town is the fulcrum of the territory, where ancient stories, traditions and culture of those who preceded us are preserved. You too can contribute to leaving the testimonies of the past to the generations to come, taking care of them.