Readers will know that one thing I enjoy doing is showing various interesting historic churches, particularly those of styles which are perhaps less frequently seen (by comparison with other styles that is). Today I would like to show the Abbey of Santa Maria di Cerrate located in Italy, close to the city of Lecce. The abbey was built around the 12th century, commissioned by one of the nobles of Lecce.
As you will see in the photos below, the abbey church includes beautiful stonework and mosaics, and a rather beautiful carved altar with a rather unique looking ciborium.
A closer view of the altar and ciborium
Detail of some of the exterior carving
More photos may be seen
here.
