Discover Erchie: Churches, Grotta and Festivals

Erchie combines sacred sites, historic architecture and local festival traditions with a history stretching from the Messapian period to the 19th century.

Churches and religious sites

The Chiesa Matrice della Natività di Maria Vergine existed during the episcopate of Bishop Godino from 1081 to 1089. The renovation of the old chapel began in 1706; the present church, with its Latin cross floor plan, was completed in 1782. If you would like to visit the church at a specific time, it is open on weekdays at 6:30 p.m. and on Sundays and public holidays at 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Santuario di Santa Lucia was designated a diocesan shrine by Bishop Alberico Semeraro on April 8, 1953.

The Chiesa di San Nicola next to the Chiesa Matrice dates from 1650. It contains an artistically designed bier with a statue of the dead Christ dating from between 1715 and 1730. Together with the Chiesa Matrice and the Santuario di Santa Lucia, it makes Erchie's religious history visible through a variety of buildings and furnishings.

From the Messapian period to the Palazzo Ducale

The Grotta dell’Annunziata dates from the 5th to 4th century BC and originated during the Messapian period. Between the 10th and 11th centuries AD, it served as a refuge for Basilian monks. The Grotta dell’Annunziata has no fixed opening hours; access depends on availability.

The Palazzo Ducale was built between 1775 and 1787 by Pietro Laviano, Marchese di Tito and Duke of Satriano, as a summer residence for the feudal lords. Its interior doors feature masked figures from the 19th century. In Erchie, an ancient cave, a retreat used during the Middle Ages and a building from the feudal era therefore stand side by side, without requiring you to reduce the individual sites to the same historical period.

Calvario and a tour of the churches

Calvario was built at the beginning of the 19th century in place of the former Colonna dell’Osanna, which marked the northern end of Via Calvario. In 1935, it was moved to its present location and rebuilt true to the original. It consists of an arched backdrop with five niches. On March 16, 2008, polychrome maiolica panels depicting the Crucifixion, the trial of Jesus, the encounter with Mary, the Deposition from the Cross and the empty tomb were installed there. Erchie also has the “Itinerario delle chiese cittadine” tour.

Festivals and rural food culture

The local everyday culture includes the rural eating custom known as “poscia de fiche”: while working in the fields, people ate a few dried figs carried in their pockets. The patron-saint festivals in Erchie take place on December 13, March 19, the second Thursday after Easter and June 5, and are associated with traditional dishes, small markets and illuminations. The celebrations of San Giuseppe also included a traditional bonfire and the “mattre”.

More destinations for your planning

For further travel planning, you can also consider Rosa Marina, San Vito Dei Normanni, Lendinuso, Selva Di Fasano, Torre Canne, Grotta Figazzano, Carovigno and Caranna as well.

For the main travel overview: Brindisi.