| The sanctuary of san Rocco, known by this name since the old times, was erected on the highest spot of a hill where there used to be a Chapel built around the 16th century; since then, it was dedicated to the saint from Montpellier, co-patron of the town of Ceglie Messapica. On that hill, it is said that, in distant past, there used to be a pagan temple, which changed only when the local population, distressed by the many pestilences, started to turn to this Saint Protector of the plague victims. In 1595, an apostolic visitation took place in the Diocese of Oria, by Monsignor Camillo Borghese, bishop of Castro, and cousin of Pope Paolo V. From the report about this visit, we can obtain information about the construction of a church dedicated to san Rocco outside the town walls of Ceglie. Unlike the canonical rule about the construction of the churches, the apse was placed to face the West, instead of the East, presumably for two reasons. Firstly, to conform to the position of the pre-existing Chapel, and secondly to highlight the spectacular aspect which originates from the frontal positioning of the church in relation to the town. It would almost seem that the directional axis created by the two poles (town – church), underlines with an urban –architectonic metaphor the sympathetic welcome to the saint from Montpellier by the devoted population who wanted to erect this Temple. The Sanctuary was erected with the active cooperation of the whole community of Ceglie, and in particular of the inhabitants of the district, known at the time as county “Mammacara”. The church is formed by a nave and two aisles, and by a fourth, diagonal aisle, which gives to the whole Temple a cross shape. The front façade is in the same style as the Cathedral of Taranto; also, both on its right and on its left, four niches were obtained, where just as many statues were due to be placed, with the one of san Rocco in the middle and on top. Inside the Temple, as well as the wooden statue of the saint, dating back to the 18th century, the lithic one is also kept, dating back to the 16th century, which comes from the old Chapel, which was knocked down to make room for the new building. On the front façade of the construction, on the right, there used to be a five metre by two metre, wooden, black cross; it was taken away in the Fifties, because it was eaten away in several places by the elements. The secondary entrance, facing north, had a staircase in the same style as the main one; it was later altered, to look like it still does today, whereas the tradesmen’s entrance, facing south, led straight into the old vestry, as well as to the upper floor. The four fornix bell tower, with just as many bells of different dimensions and sounds, is placed right on the perpendicular of the original vestry. The church of san Rocco was erected as a Parish in March 1855, by Monsignor Luigi Margarita, bishop of the Diocese of Oria, following the approval granted by Ferdinando II di Borbone, King of Naples and Sicily. One of the characteristics of this sanctuary, is the presence of a great water tank, better known as the “acquara di san Rocco”, from where the community of Ceglie had been drawing water until less than fifty years ago. In the interior of the church, the Marian cult is alive and fervent; it is recognizable in the papier-mâché works, like the magnificent statuary group of the Vergine del Rosario, with the saints Domenico di Guzman and Caterina da Siena, as well as the Madonna del Carmine and the souls in Purgatory, by the painter from Mesagne Ferdinando Cellino. |