| Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel |
| |
| Church, ruined church, chapel, temple |
| Catholic |
| no |
| The church of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Ruffano dates back to 1867; it was built on the site of an old Byzantine church dedicated to Saint Foca. This plain and linear church has a rectangular form with a single nave. Along the side walls there are five altars made out of Leccese stone and dedicated to several saints. On the right is the altar dedicated to Saint Michael Archangel (S. Michele Arcangelo), here you can admire the panel portraying the Archangel as he kills Lucifer. The second altar is dedicated to Saint Rocco; here there is a painting portraying the Saint, dated 1867. The third altar, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows (Maria Santissima Addolorata), has a painting showing the Virgin sitting on a boulder with her heart pierced by a dagger. Along the left wall the first altar is dedicated to Our Lady Succour of Sinners (Maria rifugio dei peccatori); next to this is the altar dedicated to Our Lady of Carmine. The Main Altar is dedicated to Our Lady of Good Advice; the painting of her above tells the story of how the icon of Our Lady was carried by Angels from Scutari to Gennazzano, in the year 1467. Inside the church there are papier-mâché statues of saints made in the 1800s and 1900s. |
| When the weather is nice, for the festival of “Sant’Antonio da Padova” (Saint Anthony of Padua) on June 13th and the festival of San Rocco, from August 14th to 17th in nearby Torrepaduli. During these festivals there is a horse race and sword dancing. |