| The Crypt of San Salvatore is the most impressive example of architecture carved out of the rock in the lower Salento area.
Dating back to the 11th -12th century the underground structure is very similar in shape to some Byzantine churches of the same era such as San Pietro (Saint Peter’s)in Otranto.
The inside is more or less square shaped; the four central pillars and the outer semi-pillars divide the space up into nine bays, three of which have an apse and represent the “bema”, the holy part of the church where most of the religious functions took place.
Along the outer wall there is a stone step which was used as a seat.
The ceilings in each of the bays are impressive. Careful engraving in the soft rock has created superb effects; one looks like a wooden box ceiling, another has wooden beams protruding, another is dome shaped. In this way the covering of the underground structure takes on the appearance of a normal church above ground, with a combination of domes and sloping roves.
The crypt would originally have been completely covered by frescoes, but little is left of them today.
You can just about make out figures of saints in the side niches and an Annunciation scene. However, a fresco from the 13th century is still visible in the central apse, portraying the Virgin with Child between two archangels with incense holders.
Above the crypt there is a large cemetery which is the same age as the church. It is for this reason that it is likely that the building had a funerary function too.
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