Abdij van Santa Maria di Cerrate

SP100 km 5.900 73100 Lecce · ★ 3,77 (3 reviews)

Set amid the sun-drenched olive groves and lush rolling meadows of Italy's heel, this delightful little gem of cultural history was founded after King Tancredi d'Altavilla had a vision of the Madonna. Since then, the Abbey of Santa Maria Cerrate has been there for almost 800 years. Once a peaceful Greek Orthodox monastery and a successful agricultural center, it was sacked by Turkish pirates in 1711. After a long period of restoration, it is now open to the public, and this ticket gives you access to the glorious 13th-century Byzantine frescoes and architecture within.