Massafra is built on the two opposite banks of the Gravina di San Marco, which literally splits the town in two.
The most precious treasure of Massafra’s artistic and cultural heritage is its exceptional complex of rock-hewn churches, carved into caves and ravines, which earned it the title of “The Thebaid of Italy.”
Even the town’s name, derived from the Greek term mansafros (meaning a cave inhabited by hermits), highlights the inseparable bond between the city and that “underground Puglia of crypts and hermits,” one of the most fascinating cultural and anthropological chapters in Italy. The human presence in this area is confirmed by artifacts found in the ravines, dating back to a period between the 5th millennium and 1800 BC.
The Historical Tourist Itinerary
The Castle
Probably built on a Norman fortress, the castle overlooks the Gravina di San Marco.The Ancient Mother Church
Incorporated into one of the castle’s bastions, its chapel is dedicated to San Lorenzo, whose statue in gilded wood is preserved inside.The Sanctuary of the Madonna della Scala (1731)
Rising at the end of a spectacular staircase of 125 steps descending to the bottom of the ravine once called the “Valley of Roses.” Nearby, visitors can explore the remains of the “Pharmacy of San Greguro,” a complex of monastic cells (laura) connected to one another.
Also worth visiting is the Rock-Hewn Church of the Madonna della Buona Nuova, partly demolished to make way for the sanctuary. Inside, you can admire beautiful frescoes, including one of the Madonna della Bona Nova with Child.The Crypt of San Marco
Located in the ravine of the same name, it houses a circular baptismal well and a fresco of San Marco. Nearby stands the House of the Igumeno, a complex of caves that once served as the residence of the igumeno — the leader of the community, who held both religious and civil authority.
