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In San Michele Arcangelo Square, Mesagne

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It was built in 1305 on the remains of an ancient hypogeum dedicated to St Michael Archangel dating back to XII century A. D.

In 1521 it was given to the Carmelite friars who restored and enlarged it and dedicated one of the chapels to the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmelo.

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To worship St Michael Arcangel and the Virgin Mary

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It has a basilica plan with one nave, side chapels and the apse. The facade has got gabled roof and it is a mixture of Romanic and Gothic elements. The portal for example combines the Romanic elements of the splay with the gothic element of the pointed arch. Above the architrave inside the portal there is a lunette with a painting. The main facade, the side facade and the apse are decorated with blind trilobed arches and pilasters. On the side facade there are also two splayed niches.

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It is a place of religious devotion

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In the suburbs of Mesagne, 10 km far from the centre

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Second century A. D

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The archaeologists found the remains of public Roman baths consisting of three rooms: a calidarium, a frigidarium and a tepidarium. In the calidarium there was a pool of hot water sunk in the floor, the frigidarium was a large cool pool to drop into after enjoying a hot bath. The tepudarium was a room between the calidarium and the frigidarium. It was te great central hall where the bathers first assembled before having a hot or a cold bath. The temperature inside it was mild. The tepidarium was decorated with mosaics that date back to 2nd century A.D. and now it is kept in the Archaeological Museum of Mesagne.

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This area is a historical witness of Roman culture and it is a tourist destination

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The original church collapsed in 1649, so architect F. Capodieci rebuilt it between 1649 and 1660

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In IV November Square, towncentre

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It has a Latin cross plan, 1 nave and five side chapels. The sanctuary is higher than the nave: on both sides of the choir there are 8 high steps leading to the apse. The stairs in the middle of the choir lead to the ancient crypt located below the sanctuary.  Nave and transept are covered with different kinds of vaults, while a hemispheric dome rises above the transept crossing. Beautiful and precious marbles and paintings are inside the church.

The facade is divided into 3 sections by strincourses. The lowest section is similar to the central section: they have got 6 pilasters and 4 niches with statues of saints. The capitals in the lowest section are Ionic, the ones in the central are Corinthian.  In the middle there is an archevolted round arched window within a classical frame consisting of fluted pilasters with Corinthian capitals ending with a pediment. In the top section there is the bas relief of  the Virgin Mary, 4 pilasters, 2 niches with 2 statues. Inside the pediment there is the bas relief of the coat of arms of Mesagne. Next to the church there is the tall bell tower.

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To worship all Saints

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WHERE : it's in the towncentre of Mesagne

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WHERE : it's in the towncentre of Mesagne

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The castle consists of two main parts: the oldest one is the quadrangular tower which has  got three floors. It has got some embrasures to allow weapons to be fired out.  The other includes the rooms on the ground and first floor. In the internal courtyard there are the portals with  round arches. The façades are embellished with a Renaissance loggia.

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ORIGINS: it was built in the 11th century

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ORIGINS: it was built in the 11th century

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WHY: it was built for military purpose, to protect the town

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WHY: it was built for military purpose, to protect the town

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III-II century B.C.

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It is the centre of the religious life

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In the archaeological area in Via Castello you can admire the remains of six semi chambers messapian tombs. They were painted and had writings in messapian Language

Archaeologists also found a monumental semi chamber tomb (lacunar tomb) in Vico Quercia, with lots of objects inside it

It dates back to 2nd century B.C

The objects are kept in the Museum of Taranto.

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To bury the deads

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This wonderful tomb is below Nedina pub, but thanks to the transparent  glass floor you can see it from above.

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To enjoy a hot or a cold bath

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HOW IT IS USED TODAY: It is used as a museum where visitors can admire artifacts and objects which were found in the Messapian tombs located in the towncentre. 

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HOW IT IS USED TODAY: It is used as a museum where visitors can admire artifacts and objects which were found in the Messapian tombs located in the towncentre. 

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In the Towncentre of Mesagne (Castello and Vico Quercia)