Il Compianto Ligneo di Santa Maria la Greca - Luogo del Cuore Fai

The church of Santa Maria la Greca in Putignano (BA) is the candidate for the "Luoghi del Cuore" competition organized by the FAI Delegation of Trulli and Grotte as part of one of the most important national programs dedicated to the protection and enhancement of Italian cultural and landscape heritage, promoted by FAI - Fondo Ambiente Italiano.

The candidacy will be launched during the event on June 5 at 7:30 PM in the Church of Santa Maria la Greca, organized by the FAI Delegation of Trulli and Grotte. The meeting, promoted in collaboration with the Rectory of S. Maria La Greca, will focus on the enhancement of one of the oldest churches in the city and the wooden "Compianto" located on the 18th-century altar. This is a valuable work composed of the sorrowful figure of the Madonna, who holds the body of her dead son, and St. John. The art historian Maria Cristina Rossi, a guest at the event, will describe it, having included the work in a broader artistic context that refers to similar "Compianti" prevalent since the 14th century in Northern Europe, which also inspired Michelangelo's famous Pietà.

The meeting will open with greetings from Don Simeon Nkomo, Rector of Santa Maria la Greca, who will elaborate on the theme of welcome and the high spiritual value that the church holds for the community. This will be followed by a speech from Marinilde Giannandrea, Head of the FAI Delegation of Trulli and Grotte, who will illustrate the fundamental role of the Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano in actively protecting and promoting our territorial heritage.

The central moment of the evening will be the presentation by art historian Maria Cristina Rossi entitled "The Compianto of Santa Maria la Greca." The talk will reveal the history of a little-known masterpiece, offering new interpretive keys to this jewel of our heritage. The narrative will then shift to popular roots with Pinuccio Mangini from the association "La Goccia," who will recount the stories that have enveloped the sacred building over the centuries in a journey between history and legend. In closing, Carmela Curci, Delegate for "Luoghi del Cuore" of the FAI Delegation of Trulli and Grotte, will present an overview of the national census, explaining the importance of citizens' reports in activating concrete recovery plans for the most beloved sites.

"The candidacy is part of the 'I Luoghi del Cuore FAI' project, which involves citizens, committees, and associations in reporting the most loved and deserving places of attention and protection," declared Marinilde Giannandrea, "and the inclusion of Santa Maria la Greca represents a significant recognition for the local community and for the historical and identity value of the asset."

Situated in the heart of the historic center, Santa Maria la Greca has its roots in ancient times and has undergone transformations over the years that have defined its current Baroque appearance, characterized by high-quality architectural and decorative elements. The church houses not only the Compianto but also numerous treasures, including the relics of Saint Stephen, the protomartyr and protector of the city, kept in a precious silver reliquary dating from the late 12th to early 13th century, a Byzantine icon depicting a Madonna Odigitria (she who shows the way), which tradition says arrived in Putignano on December 26, 1394, along with the relics of the Saint, and an 18th-century majolica floor of Neapolitan school.

The church has always been a reference point for the religious and social life of the community, but this extraordinary heritage risks being compromised if ordinary and extraordinary maintenance work is not carried out. The candidacy now opens the way for new opportunities for enhancement and awareness, aiming to involve citizens in a shared path of protection and promotion of local heritage.

In the coming months, initiatives will be promoted to support and participate in reinforcing the candidacy and provide further visibility to the site, symbolizing the cultural identity of Putignano.

Santa Maria la Greca in Putignano is a candidate as a "Luogo del Cuore FAI" and is organized by the FAI Delegation of Trulli and Grotte and the Rectory Church of S. Maria La Greca in collaboration with the "La Goccia" Association of Putignano and under the patronage of the Municipality of Putignano. The photographic campaign was carried out by Luigi Bruno. The event is supported by Petrantiche, Albergo diffuso, and by Paolina-Osteria sincera Putignano.

Maria Cristina Rossi
Graduated in Art History from the "G. D'Annunzio" University of Chieti (2010), she completed her training with a Diploma in Archival Science, Paleography, and Diplomatics in Rome (2013) and a PhD at Sapienza (2014). An art historian with experience in the Superintendencies of Turin (2021-2023) and Milan (2024), she has taught university courses (in Basilicata and Molise, 2023) and conducted academic research at the University of Foggia. Currently, she is a lecturer in Art History. Among her main studies are those on 12th and 14th-century sculpture in Abruzzo and Puglia, on Benedictine monasteries in Southern Italy, on the iconography of Saint Nicholas, on medieval Bari, and on the Basilica of Saint Nicholas and the Cathedral of Bari.

Among her numerous publications:
"Wooden Sculptures between Conversano and Putignano (Terra di Bari) from the 14th to the 16th Century. A Documentary Survey" in "I quaderni del m.æ.s." –XXIII/2025, pp. 111-129, University of Foggia, 2025
"Alabaster Sculpture in the Southeast of Terra di Bari. The Unusual Iconography of the 'Madonna di Trapani' of Putignano between Puglia and Basilicata," in Conversano and the Southeastern Territory of Terra di Bari between the Middle Ages and the Modern Age, edited by L. Derosa, F. Panarelli, and M.C. Rossi, University of Foggia, 2025.

Free admission.
Web: fondoambiente.it/luoghi/ret...