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Church of Our Lady of the Greek, the oldest of Locorotondo — Locorotondo
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Religious places 📍 Locorotondo, Italy 313 views

Church of Our Lady of the Greek, the oldest of Locorotondo

The Church of Our Lady of the Greek is the oldest church in Locorotondo, built twice. The first building dates back to the VII-VIII century, while the current one dates back to the XV century. The latter was built in 1480 on commission of Pirro Orsini del Balzo, Prince of Taranto...

Church of Our Lady of the Greek, the oldest of Locorotondo — Locorotondo, Italy.

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Locorotondo
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Religious places
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About Church of Our Lady of the Greek, the oldest of Locorotondo

Church of Our Lady of the Greek, the oldest of Locorotondo - Locorotondo | Secret World Trip Planner

The Church of Our Lady of the Greek is the oldest church in Locorotondo, built twice. The first building dates back to the VII-VIII century, while the current one dates back to the XV century. The latter was built in 1480 on commission of Pirro Orsini del Balzo, Prince of Taranto, who was visiting Locorotondo. It was decided to build it on the site where there was already a grotto with an image of the Madonna and still today traces of the primitive structure can be seen incorporated in the 15th century one. Despite the various reconstructions that the church has undergone over the centuries, it still retains a medieval Gothic style inside and a sober medieval essentiality outside. The façade is bell-shaped with side sloping roofs that hint at the internal division of the three naves. The facade is pierced by a stone rose window made in the twentieth century by the master locorotondo, Domenico Rosato, designed by Vito Giuseppe Curri. The rose window is a reproduction of the previous, medieval one that was destroyed. On the superior angles of the first elevation of the façade there are the statues of the Saints Peter and Paul, coming in all probability from the ancient Mother Church. In the past, the church must have been decorated with frescoes, as evidenced by a fragment of a fresco of the Madonna and Child on the wall of the right aisle. Some sculptural works in local stone are preserved in an excellent state. On the high altar there is the polyptych of the Madonna delle Rose with s.. Lucia, s. Peter, s. Paolo and s. Oronzo, commissioned in the 16th century by Ottaviano Loffredo, lord of Locorotondo. Two other valuable works: the bas-relief of St. George (1559) at the end of the left aisle and the statue of a kneeling warrior with clasped hands, with a mysterious identity. For some it is Pirro Orsini del Balzo, for others, Ottaviano Loffredo.

Church of Our Lady of the Greek, the oldest of Locorotondo - Locorotondo | Secret World Trip Planner
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Frequently Asked Questions

The Church of Our Lady of the Greek was built twice: the original structure dates back to the VII-VIII century, but the current church was rebuilt in 1480 by commission of Pirro Orsini del Balzo, Prince of Taranto. Despite multiple reconstructions over the centuries, traces of the primitive grotto structure can still be seen incorporated into the 15th-century building.
The church retains a medieval Gothic style inside with sober medieval simplicity on the exterior, featuring a distinctive bell-shaped façade with side sloping roofs. The façade is pierced by a stone rose window created in the twentieth century by master craftsman Domenico Rosato, which is a reproduction of the medieval rose window that was destroyed.
The church houses several valuable artworks including a 16th-century polyptych of the Madonna delle Rose on the high altar, a bas-relief of St. George from 1559, and a mysterious kneeling warrior statue in local stone. You can also see a fragment of a fresco depicting the Madonna and Child on the right aisle wall, and statues of Saints Peter and Paul on the façade's upper angles.
The church was built in 1480 on the site of an ancient grotto that contained an image of the Madonna, making it a sacred location for centuries. The decision to rebuild on this spot preserved the spiritual significance of the original VII-VIII century structure while incorporating its remains into the new 15th-century design.
The polyptych of the Madonna delle Rose on the high altar was commissioned in the 16th century by Ottaviano Loffredo, lord of Locorotondo, while the church itself was commissioned by Pirro Orsini del Balzo, Prince of Taranto. The rose window and other architectural elements were created by local master craftsman Domenico Rosato based on designs by Vito Giuseppe Curri.

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