inside the church there are several frescoes, including the depiction of St. Nicholas who is illuminated at the heart by a ray of light that passes through a hole in the wall, on the day of the equinox

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Cornelia Fuchs

February 24, 2025

Hiking

South-east of Mottola, in the Gorgone area near the Lamaderchia farm, along the ancient Via Consolare which represents a medieval branch of the Via Appia, stands the jewel in the crown of the Mirabili Grotte di Dio Mottolesi, the rock church of San Nicola, so named by Charles Diehl who was the first to describe it in 1894, an object of devotion for centuries of the local inhabitants, as well as of the Crusaders and pilgrims who travelled to Taranto and Brindisi from the inland regions to embark for the Holy Land.

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Best routes to Rock Church of San Nicola

riders

1. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Rock Church of San Nicola loop from Palagiano-Mottola

59.4km

04:53

1,110m

Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Hard

4.0

(8)

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2. Totem of the Cammino Materano – Massafra Castle loop from Massafra

46.3km

03:10

450m

Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

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3. Castellaneta Cycle Path Tunnel – Rock Church of San Nicola loop from Palagiano-Mottola

46.1km

03:43

710m

Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

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Informations

Elevation 100 m

Weather

Thursday 5 February

20°C

10°C

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Location: Mottola, Taranto, Apulia, Italy

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Rock Church of San Nicola

1. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Rock Church of San Nicola loop from Palagiano-Mottola

2. Totem of the Cammino Materano – Massafra Castle loop from Massafra

3. Castellaneta Cycle Path Tunnel – Rock Church of San Nicola loop from Palagiano-Mottola

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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