| The Crypt of Santa Maria degli Angeli is one of the most interesting examples of an underground church of Greek rite in the Salento area.
Created around the 11th century, the church is cited in reference to the loan of a book of liturgical songs that the Greek Monastery of San Nicola di Casole had granted to Papas Michele of Poggiardo.
During the 16th century the crypt was abandoned and filled in with debris; it was only in 1929 that it was discovered by chance during an excavation and restored.
The splendid frescoes which decorated the walls were removed and carefully restored.
In 1975 they were placed in the Fresco Museum in Poggiardo, close to the town park in Piazza G. Episcopo.
Today the crypt can be visited and faithful reproductions of the paintings can be seen in their place.
It can be accessed via a stairway to the side of the Palazzo Ducale; originally, however, the entrance would have been first through a dromos, a type of narrow corridor.
The crypt is more or less square in shape with four central pillars.
The model is that of some mid-Byzantine churches such as the crypt of San Salvatore in Giurdignano and the church of San Pietro in Otranto.
The pictorial repertoire is of great interest.
Standing at the entrance to the right you can admire, in this order: San Nicola, San Giorgio(St. George) in the act of killing the dragon; S. Gregorio Nazianzeno and S. Giovanni Teologo; Christ with Mary Magdalen at his feet and to the right S. Anastasio; S. Demetrio and S. Nicola; San Giovanni Teologo.
Continuing into the area reserved for liturgy, we find a beautiful fresco of the Virgin with Child among the Archangels, painted in the central apse. On the two pillars placed at each side two martyred Saints are portrayed: San Lorenzo and Santo Stefano.
In the left hand apse is a picture of Saint Micheal Archangel.
Inside the niche to the left of the presbytery area are the Saints Cosma and Damiano.
Going back to main room, along the left wall you can see, in the order they are painted: S. Giovanni Battista (Saint John the Baptist); San Michele Arcangelo; San Giuliano; the Virgin Mary with Saint Nicola; another Virgin with Child.
On the first pillar to the left Saint George and another (unrecognisable) saint are portrayed.
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