Parabita: Churches, Art and History

In Parabita, you can explore different aspects of the town’s history: sacred art, a church with late Baroque design, collections and archaeological traces. The annual patron saint festival is also part of the town’s traditions. The themes range from a Byzantine fresco to posters covering different areas of life. This overview can help you plan your trip without conflating building history, works of art and the locations where collections are now housed.

Sacred Art and Building History

The Basilica di Santa Maria della Coltura was built in 1913 to a design by the architect Napoleone Pagliarulo. Its design combines Romanesque-Byzantine, Gothic and Apulian-Romanesque styles. Inside is a monolith with a Byzantine fresco of the Virgin Mary, dating from around the 12th century. The building and the artwork therefore point to distinctly different periods: the church was built in the early 20th century, while the fresco is about eight centuries older. The Santuario della Madonna della Coltura was elevated to the status of a Minor Basilica in November 1999. This institutional development is a distinct aspect of the history associated with Coltura.

The Church and Monastery of the Alcantarines

The Alcantarines arrived in Parabita in 1731 and completed their church and monastery, the Chiesa del SS. Crocefisso e Convento degli Alcantarini, a few years later. The church features late Baroque design. Among its notable features are four elaborately crafted twisted columns, a central fresco of the Holy Cross, and sculptures, stucco work and statues made of Lecce stone. These details bring together different forms and materials: alongside the fresco are sculptural works and stucco. The church also contains an 18th-century Nativity scene from the Neapolitan school. The building’s history and the Nativity scene are two distinct cultural subjects here.

Palazzo Ferrari and Collections

Palazzo Ferrari dates from 1800 and is located on Via Vittorio Emanuele III in Parabita. The building is owned by the municipality and now houses the Quadreria Giannelli. Another collection can be found at the Museo del Manifesto in Parabita, which was founded in 1982. Its extensive poster collection covers cinema, theatre, tourism, advertising and politics. The collections thus differ both in name and in the subjects they cover: the Quadreria Giannelli is housed in Palazzo Ferrari, while the Museo del Manifesto brings together posters from several public and cultural fields. This offers culture enthusiasts different ways to explore art and visual design.

Archaeological Traces and Figurines

Traces of an archaic building system remain visible in the archaeological area of the prehistoric village near the Grotta delle Veneri. The Upper Paleolithic figurines from the Grotta delle Veneri can now be seen at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Taranto. This makes it possible to distinguish between two different aspects: the visible traces in the archaeological area and the figurines at their current exhibition location. Those interested in the area’s early history will find both a subject relating to structural remains and one concerning archaeological objects.

Patron Saint Festival and Local Tradition

Parabita’s annual patron saint festival takes place on the last Saturday, Sunday and Monday in May. The programme includes the “a corsa ti curraturi” footrace. The exact festival dates may vary from year to year, so if the event is important to your travel plans, check the dates for the relevant year. According to local tradition, the name “Cutura” may be connected with the practice of distributing “Panetteddhri”—blessed bread—during the festival. The distribution of bread remains a possible tradition as recounted locally. Together, the festival, race and culinary tradition offer insight into different aspects of local culture.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Minervino Di Lecce, Copertino, San Donato Di Lecce, San Dana, Conca Specchiulla, Monteroni Di Lecce, Melissano, Spongano

Back to the main travel overview: Lecce.