Discover Mottola: Rock Churches, Forest and Holiday Apartments

Mottola reveals its character through an unusual combination of rock churches, Romanesque architecture and an extensive woodland landscape. The Cattedrale dell'Assunta stands in the heart of Schiavonia, Mottola’s historic old town, while the Bosco di Sant’Antuono provides a contrasting landscape. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Mottola, you can plan your stay around this interplay of culture, religious history and nature.

Rock Churches with Medieval History

An important cultural site lies southeast of Mottola: the rock church of San Nicola di Lamaderchia is located in the Gorgone district, near Masseria Lamaderchia. In the Middle Ages, San Nicola di Lamaderchia was a place of devotion for local residents as well as for crusaders and pilgrims travelling from inland areas to Taranto and Brindisi to board ships for their onward journey to the Holy Land. The history of the site is therefore closely linked to religious routes and medieval mobility.

San Gregorio was carved out of the rock during the Norman period, between the 11th and 12th centuries. San Gregorio’s basilical layout comprises three aisles and three semicircular apses with concave endings. For days focused on culture, this is a place to take a closer look at the connection between architectural form, material and historical period.

Architectural and Religious Features

In the sanctuary of Madonna delle Sette Lampade, seven lamps have traditionally been kept burning continuously to this day. The feast of this Madonna is celebrated on 14 September. The rock church has two aisles separated by two pillars, ending in apses oriented towards the east; the entrance is located on the south side. This floor plan is generally considered rather rare among religious buildings. The rock church can be reached via a steep descent covered with gravel and loose stones, followed by four steps.

The Cattedrale dell'Assunta is a Romanesque cathedral built in the early years of the 12th century in the heart of Schiavonia, Mottola’s historic old town. Its basilical interior has three aisles separated by rows of columns. It therefore complements the rock churches with a differently characterised religious building within the old town.

Ravine and Forest as Distinct Landscape Experiences

The rock church of Santa Margherita is notable for its unusual floor plan as well as the quantity and quality of its frescoes. Access to the Santa Margherita crypt leads through the wild vegetation of the ravine and across a narrow footbridge running above the abyss. This route combines a natural setting and a cultural site in a way that clearly differs from the architectural impressions of the old town.

The municipal Bosco di Sant’Antuono forest covers approximately 520 hectares. It is crossed by Provincial Road No. 36 Mottola–Martina Franca and extends across gentle, relatively unbroken hills at an elevation of 400 to 450 metres above sea level. Those who wish to include open landscapes in their travel plans alongside churches and frescoes will find an independent focal point here, with a clearly recognisable character of the terrain.

A Holiday Apartment in Mottola for Your Travel Rhythm

When choosing a holiday apartment in Mottola, you can make your preferred travel rhythm the focus. If you are travelling with children or in a group with different interests, the cultural sites, ravine and forest can be viewed as different ideas for day trips. The religious buildings lend themselves to peaceful exploration and historical conversations, while the landscapes described above offer a different perspective on Mottola.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

Specchiarica, Marina Di Ginosa, Palagianello, Lido Azzurro, Avetrana, Faggiano, Castellaneta Marina and Crispiano

To the main travel overview: Taranto.