Maria SS Annunziata Church and Augustinian Monastery

The Church of Mary Most Holy Annunciation is an architectural gem dating back to 1660, as attested by the epigraph engraved on its facade. Located next to the Monastery of the Augustinians, it is one of the most fascinating structures in Sogliano Cavour. The church stands on a complex of Basilian caves, including the striking Cripta della Madonna del Riposo, still accessible via a staircase next to the main altar.>pThe church's square and linear façade is characterized by two mighty pilasters, each of which houses in its niches the statues of St. Augustine and St. Nicholas of Tolentino. The entrance portal is framed by two slender columns with Corinthian capitals, which rise up to the volutes of the broken tympanum. Above the lintel stands a statue of the Virgin, under which is engraved a Latin epigraph, and higher up we find a rectangular window surmounted by the heraldic coat of arms of the Filomarino, the promoters of the parish.>pInside the church, the single nave houses the Baroque-style high altar and a wooden choir, enriched by precious paintings depicting the Madonna of Good Counsel, the Madonna of the Rosary and St. Vincent Ferreri. Side chapels protect altars made of pietra leccese dedicated to various sacred figures, including the Nativity, St. Augustine, the Crucifix, the Immaculate, St. Nicholas and St. Monica.>pAdjacent to the church is the former Monastery of the Augustinians, a building dating from around 1650, now the Town Hall of Sogliano Cavour. The simple, linear entrance leads to a large square cloister with four arches on each side, in the center of which is a cistern, once used as a reservoir for rainwater. The monastery, which still retains a wooden door engraved with the date 1743, was inhabited by the Augustinians until 1962, before passing under the management of the municipality.>pExploring Sogliano Cavour means immersing oneself in the historical and cultural richness of Salento, starting precisely with its churches and monastery, which, with their centuries-old history, represent a perfect example of the art and architecture of the period. These places, although not geolocated, can be discovered and appreciated for their beauty and spiritual significance.>p