| Masseria Jesce is a big so called farmhouse from the 16th century, situated along the Via Appia at about 13 kilometers from Altamura. The building lies in the centre of an archaeological area datable to the 3rd – 2nd century B.C. The site itself might be a continuation from Roman times where along the Via Appia the mansio Sublupatia (as drawn on the Tabula Peuteringiana) seems to be located in the same place as nowadays Jesce.
The masseria itself was most likely built in 4 phases starting in the 16th (or perhaps 15th) century. Theory is that it started with a tower soon expanded and ending with the right upstairs wing constructed by the De Mari family in the 17th century.
The De Mari family restored also the extraordinary crypt located at the front of the building. This crypt, used as a chapel, has frescoes inside depicting different figures. The frescoes unfortunately are in danger by salts penetrating from above. Besides the crypt a number of other caves are situated around the masseria. Used in past times as shelter and as stables for sheep.
Masseria Jesce has had different owners until in the 1980s it came into the hands of the municipality together with the crypt and the courtyard at the back. Since 1995 and up to 2009 Sinergie Cooperative Society organized restoration volunteer camps every summer for recuperation and valorization of the site. Over the years the courtyard dry-stone walls have been reconstructed, caves have been cleaned, the well has been restored, skylights have been restored and floors have been laid.
In 2009 the municipality received a funding for masseria Jesce and they used it to render the site more visitable. Bathrooms were put in, the site was paved and light implants have been set up. Unfortunately no archaeological research has been done prior to the transformation. |