2015-05-15 20:23:10
The complex of Santa Maria di Leuca of Belvedere, also known locally as Leuca Piccola, is an articulate religious structure built in the site of a preexisting church in 1685 by Baron Don Annibale Capece.
The existing church is equipped with an impressive pronaos, consisting of a monumental body with large arches that leads directly into the small church, with a sacristy at the back.
The interior is decorated with seventeenth-eighteenth century frescoes depicting Saint Lazarus, Saint Lucia, St. Horace, Santa Barbara, Santa Marina, St. Francis of Paola, St. Paschal Baylon, San Gennaro and San Leonardo. On the vault, the four Evangelists (St. Matthew, St. Luke, St. Mark and St. John) are painted, linked by the initials JHS (Jesus Saviour of the World).
Through a narrow staircase, built in the perimeter wall on the left side of the church, is the first floor with an area for refuge in case of danger.
In the courtyard of the church is an entrance that leads through a staircase, to a hypogeum intended to cool the pilgrims. It is spacious, cool, dug in the rock and with three wells. Along the walls are large niches, intended for repose, divided from one another by a partition of rock.
Placed in front of the pronaos of the church is a structure that corresponds to a stable, which has various mangers for the refreshment of the pilgrims’ horses.
At the entrance of the complex, the eight large arches, which previously were ten, bear a plaque with a particular inscription, defined as the 10 P’s, serving as warning of the reflection: “parole poco pensate portano pena, perciò prima pensare poi parlare” which translates to: "words with little thoughts bring punishment, therefore think first then talk"
Strada Comunale Morciano - Barbarano, Barbarano, Morciano di Leuca