Casamassima - Notable Landmarks

Notable Landmarks

• Door Clock – One of the many doors that permits access to the inside of the wall around the city.
• Arch of the Shadows – Known as the "rendezvous point of ghosts". It is said to be that this is a popular meeting place of spirits and ghosts at night. They supposedly come out for evening gatherings; hence this particular spot was further more named the Arch of Bad Shadows. Ironically, located directly above this particular spot is a house that was the resident of the first municipal physician of Casamassima, Italy.
• Abbey of Saint Angelo – Near the foot of Mount Sannace, a humble Benedictine convent was erected in 1000 AD (estimated by historians). Long before Michael Vaaz founded Castle St. Michelle (in the 17th century), St. Angelo Abbey was a part of the Casamassima Territory.
• Castle of the Centurion – The former grounds for which Abbey di St. Angelo was constructed in 1619.
• Mother Church – The church obtaining the bell tower that chimed at 5 A.M.

"It is still alive in our memory, and more still in our soul, the sonorous and melodious tone of the mystical bell of the historical bell tower of the Mother Church that, punctually, each morning, at the hour of five, provided for waking up all the citizens and, with the good morning not always accepted with good wishes, they ordered all the citizens to get up and go cultivate the earth and pick up the fruits of her results."

• S. Chiara Street – An ancient Italian suburb crossing. The beautiful Italian monastery of S. Chiara, for whence the street name came, may be visited today in all its rich Italian history. This particular monastery does not stand today in its original state, due to the fact it has been continuously rearranged for consistent repair. To give you an idea of the age of the church, the entrance doors can be dated back to the end of the 16th century.
• Madonna di Carmine from the 17th century under the Arc of Via Santa Chiara – This painting can be found in the old suburb, and has been returned to the city of Casamassima. A two-month restoration project by Vincenzina Lagravinese and Rosanna Lerede have thankfully brought light back to the original work of art that was in disastrous condition in addition to an ill advised painting of the Arc that once enveloped the gorgeous masterpiece of this particular Madonna. Upon the removal of the mortar and the over painting the reveal was amazing, even to the restorers.

The painting contains the Madonna with an important crown upon her head, dressed in a clear tunic with a blue sash also covering her head. She is supporting the Child with both arms while He caresses the face of his Mother with his right hand all the while supporting a calm bird on the index finger of his left hand.

At the sides of the Virgin's head are two angel heads with inconspicuous figures dressed in monastic habits, which sadly, the angel on the right is almost irrecoverable.