The jewels of Torre Santa Susanna

Torre Santa Susanna is a small town, close to Mesagne, in the province of Brindisi.

In Torre S. Susanna there are two things you must see. Firstly, the Byzantine church of Crepacore. 

Secondly, the medieval ipogeo olive press, one of the biggest ever made in Apulia.

Lucia and I leave early in the morning heading to church of Crepacore which dates back to the 7^th century.

On Sunday, the church is opened from 10 to 12 am.

We arrive at 11 o’clock.

The church of Crepacore is located a couple of miles before Torre S. Susanna, on the road which links Mesagne to Torre S. Susanna.

Francesca and Cosimo, two young passionate tourist guides, welcome us with a gentle smile.

“The main entry of the church is addressed to East, where the sun arises”. Francesca says.

“We have discovered few Longobardic tombs around here. In all of them, the body had its head oriented at East”.

The church has been built right in the middle of the limitone dei Greci, a wall which separated the Greek part of Apulia ruled by the Spartan Taranto, from the Messapians (Manduria, Brindisi etc..).

The church has been built up on a Roman rural villa.

The number three occurs quite often in this temple: three windows, three navate (nave). That is not a  coincidence.

Gaiderisio, a Longobardic Prince, had been painted beside St. Pietro. It is presumed that it is a Byzantine fresco, though. You will notice that Gaiderisio is on the same level of the Saint.

Both of them are represented with the same length.

What strong, and at the same time, subliminal impact on the audience of that time.

Political and religious powers move on together.

The following fresco represents God, surrounded by archangels and saints.

These frescos are dated back to 9^th and 10^th century.

We complete the visit to this astonishing church, not before having paid the ticket.

However, we want to go to Torre S. Susanna and visit the ipogeo olive press as well.

Actually, I’m just reading an inspiring book about the rocky civilisation: Le chiese rupestri di Puglia, written by Franco dell’Aquila and Aldo Messina. Edited by Adda (Bari, Italy).

Indeed, we were absolutely right to visit the ipogeo. It is immense.

This is a monument of the rocky civilization.

The ipogeo is excavated into a tufaceous stone.

At that time, the ipogeo were very much appreciated for several reasons:

•          The temperature was held pretty low, at an average of 6°.
•           The precious olive oil was secured underneath from raids.
•          Last but not least, it was easier to excavate than to carry on stones and build up.

The olive press dates back to the 17^th century.

However, according to the rumours, part of it was already excavated in the 15^th century by Basilian monks for religious purposes.

The ipogeo is compounded by several rooms, some of them are even not accessible.

There are two kinds of presses: one is called genovese. 

The other one calabrese.

The ipogeo has been working till, at least, the 1867.

However, a national law promulgated in the early 20^th century, will definitely shut down such ipogeo due to the lack of hygienic standards.

We say bye to Mina, who has guided us through this underneath labyrinth.

Finally, Lucia and I come back to Brindisi, easily though.

We chat about the nice people we have just met, and the two jewels we have admired.