Chiesa della Madonna di Costantinopoli (en)
2015-06-22 19:08:50
The Church of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, known locally as the Chiesa dei Diavoli, is a extra-urban octagonal structure, built in the seventeenth century by the Marquis Gattinara. The upper part of the church is defined by a double cornice which makes the extrados of the vault instantly visible. A bell tower is set on the attic of the brickwork on the southeastern part.
The interior is marked by angular pilasters with Corinthian capitals and round arches; the ceiling consists of a pavilion vault with lunettes set on the octagonal support. The remains of the original altar are on the walls. The Virgin of Constantinople, adored by angels, saints and by the same developer was depicted on the main altar.
Strada dei SS. Medici, vecchia Strada per Tricase Porto, Tricase
constraints:
Vincolo Architettonico
Area del Parco naturale regionale costa Otranto - Santa Maria di Leuca e Bosco di Tricase
bibliography sources:
F. Accogli, Storia di Tricase. La città, le frazioni, Galatina 1995. F. Accogli, C. Accogli, Tradizioni Popolari a Tricase, Edizioni dell’Iride, 2002. M. Peluso, V. Peluso, Guida di Tricase, Caprarica, Depressa, Lucugnano, Sant'Eufemia, Tutino e Le Marine, Galatina 2008.
historical information:
According to local legends, the church was built in 1685, as indicated from the inscription on the front door, by the Marquis of St. Martin, Jacopo Francesco Arborio Gattinara, following a deal with the devil; another legend says that the church was built by the devil in one night, hence the name "Church of the Devils." In the eighteenth century, the church still celebrated a mass; in the following century, the progressive decay of the structure prompted the bishop to interdict worship inside the church in 1878. Legend has it that the church should be walled to embank the evil contained in the structure. In 1966 the building and the surrounding area have been bought by the municipality.