Santa Maria di Cerrate Abbey

Santa Maria di Cerrate Abbey tickets: which one to buy

The Abbey of Santa Maria di Cerrate stands in the countryside about fifteen kilometres north of Lecce, in Puglia, Italy, surrounded by olive groves, and a ticket is required; it is managed by FAI, the Italian National Trust, which restored it and opened it to the public. It is one of the finest examples of Apulian Romanesque architecture and a peaceful place far from the crowds.

A car is needed to reach it, and it is often combined with Lecce's baroque old town and the beaches of the Adriatic coast nearby, such as Torre Rinalda. The abbey hosts events, concerts and exhibitions in summer. The site includes a museum of popular traditions in the old farm buildings. Opening days are limited, especially in winter, so check the FAI website before visiting. Guided tours are available. FAI members receive free entry, and memberships can be bought at the abbey.

Visiting Santa Maria di Cerrate Abbey: what to see

According to legend, the abbey was founded in the twelfth century by Tancred, Count of Lecce, after a vision of the Virgin appeared to him between the horns of a deer while he was hunting. It was a monastery of the Basilian monks, who followed the Greek rite, and it became an important centre of Byzantine culture in southern Italy. The church, built in the Romanesque style, has a carved portal decorated with scenes from the life of Christ and a porch with columns whose capitals show animals and plants. Inside, the church has three naves, and its walls carry fragments of frescoes from the twelfth to fifteenth centuries, some of which were removed and are displayed in the museum. The abbey later became a farm, and the buildings around the church include an oil press, a well and the farmhouse.

The restoration by FAI revived the site. The church's frescoes include scenes of the Annunciation, the Dormition of the Virgin and saints in Byzantine style. The portal's carved archivolt shows the Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi. The porch's columns have capitals carved with animals, monsters and plants. The farm buildings include a large oil press, used until the twentieth century. The museum's exhibits show traditional farm tools and domestic objects. The abbey's courtyard has a well and a garden. The restoration uncovered frescoes hidden beneath later layers. The abbey's bell gable rises above the church. The surrounding olive groves include ancient trees. The FAI guides explain the history of the Basilian monks and the abbey.

Santa Maria di Cerrate Abbey opening hours and the best time to go

The abbey is open on selected days, mainly weekends, with more days in summer; check the FAI schedule. Puglia is hot in summer, and spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons, when the olive groves are green and the countryside is peaceful. Summer brings concerts and events in the abbey courtyard. Allow about an hour for the abbey and museum, and combine the visit with Lecce or a swim at the nearby Adriatic coast. The Adriatic beaches of Torre Chianca and Spiaggiabella are about fifteen minutes' drive east.