Chiesa Madonna delle Grazie
Cent. 19th
Situated on the road for Bitetto, the Chiesa della Madonna delle Grazie is pleasing in its solemn and attractive architecture. The ancient chapel is documented in the Land Registry of 1633 and the Archbishop Michele Garruba mentioned it in 1844 as a rural chapel present in the area of Palo. Given its state of abandon, the local devotees restored it and inscribed the architrave with: “Pietas fidelium aedificavit. 1856”. Later, in 1886 the confraternity of the Madonna delle Grazie came into being as well as a charitable association for the poor. The simple limestone building soon became too small for the growing congregation, so in 1948 the engineer Mastromatteo was entrusted with building an extension, respecting the original shape of the ancient building. The façade was rebuilt as it was, the only change being to widen the entrance to allow the statue of the Madonna to pass through on festival days.
A semi-circular window was created above the entrance on the gabled façade, and above this window a recess was created, containing the image of the Virgin, and a single lancet window with a bell. The bell tower on the right of the façade was erected in 1967 by the Vulpis brothers. The interior of the church is covered by barrel vaults while the presbytery is covered by a dome, decorated like a starry sky. On the stone altar is the oil painting of the Nursing Madonna (1862). Next to this is the papier-mâché statue of Our lady of Grace, restored by Gerardo Bitetto. She is dressed in a finely embroidered pink tunic and a light blue cloak. This statue is carried solemnly around the town by members of the confraternity on the second Sunday of October.