| A group of monks of St. Basil built a temple dedicated to the Mother of God near the actual cemetery - the area then known as "Talassano" (greek word meaning a swampy area near the sea) which formerly was connected with the Great Salt the Mar Piccolo.
Around this settlement, the first houses were built, creating a small village (in 1400 there were more than two hundred inhabitants), which took its name from the area.
The great abbey was enlarged in 1340 by Robert, son of Philip, Prince of Taranto.
Inside the church are capitals, and, of particular interest, the austere figure of the Madonna delle Grazie and the Child Jesus
The church was enlarged and restored in 1845 at a cost of 1138 ducats at the behest of King Ferdinand II of Naples. |