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beautiful road inside the Pianelle forest

Starting point for hikes in the Pianelle forest. There's a small bar. There's a sign near the fountain: non-potable water. But we always drank it.

The patronage of "Our Lady of the Snows" – which, in my experience, is not all that common – indicates that this church was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, but not, as is usually the case, associated with one of her classic feast days (e.g., the Name of Mary, the Nativity, the Assumption, or as Queen of the Rosary). Rather, the search for the origin of "Our Lady of the Snows" leads us far back in church history to the fourth or fifth century, and geographically north to the Italian capital. On August 5, 363, at the site where the magnificent church of Santa Maria Maggiore stands today, the so-called "Miracle of the Snows" occurred. That is, on that day, in the middle of summer, snow lay on the ground in the morning because Our Lady wanted a church dedicated to her to be built on that spot. She communicated this wish in a nighttime vision to a wealthy couple – who financed the construction – and to the Bishop of Rome, Pope Liberius. The Roman church has the rank of a patriarchal basilica (papal basilica), and is the origin of all churches and chapels bearing this patronage. In the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church, the date of August 5, the day of the church's consecration (in the year 432 by Pope Sixtus III), is a "non-obligatory memorial."

There are many ceramics workshops in the immediate vicinity. Despite the similarity in the motifs, the workshops usually have their own unique style. Today—off-season—the neighborhood was very quiet, and some shopkeepers took the time to explain some of the special features to us. It's worth stopping by the shops; you'll probably find something beautiful to take home.

The splendid Martinesi Donkeys raised in nature in the large spaces of the Russoli Educational Farm

The Castle of Massafra, located in the historic center of Massafra, is a medieval castle overlooking the Pizzo Ravine and San Marco. Its structure and architectural motifs are similar to other castles in Apulia, with four towers arranged in a wishbone and pattern and linked by boundary walls. The oldest towers are circular, while the keep is octagonal in the southeast. The first definite record of the castle dates back to the year 970. With the domination of the Angevins, the castle took on the appearance of a fortress, with crenellated ramparts and towers. It underwent further transformations under the Aragonese, and in the 18th century the Imperial family rebuilt the octagonal tower and the front facing towards the ravine, designed by the architect Mauro Manieri Lecce. The castle was in the possession of many owners before eventually being purchased by the city.

The church of Santa Maria, or church of Sant'Angelo, but for all the Crispianesi “Chiesa Vecchia”, dates back to the 16th century, but was presumably built on the ruins of a pre-existing church. It is located near the Grotte del Vallone, in the center of the medieval hamlet of Crispiano. In Ionic-Romanesque style, the church became the first parish of Crispiano. Inside it contained many frescoes that unfortunately time and neglect have almost completely erased.

Built in 1938 and erected in 1958, the Parish of San Michele Arcangelo is located in the small village of San Simone (Crispiano-TA). Behind it we find the chapel dedicated to Maria SS.ma del Carmelo built in 1649, as can be seen from the date engraved on the entrance architrave, together with the coat of arms IHS, Iesus Hominum Salvator, Jesus Savior of men. In ancient times it was dedicated to San Filippo Neri, depicted in the apse of the same chapel, next to the Virgin, to the right of the observer, because the entire farmhouse belonged to the homonymous farm, bordering the church. This farm was later called San Simini and still retains this name today. Due to its position in relation to the cow cart, the chapel suggests that in its time it served as a stop and reference point in the transhumance from the Murge towards Salento. The chapel consists of a single small room with barrel vaults and inside there are frescoes: the Virgin of Carmel with Child, on the left St. Thomas the Apostle and St. Michael the Archangel and St. Martin of Tours, on the right St. Philip Neri and St. Simon the Apostle. Above the entrance door stands a beautiful bell tower with a 19th-century bell.