Church Matrice Parrocchia di Tutti i Santi

A visit to Mesagne is not complete without a stop at the splendid Church Matrice or Parish Church of All Saints, a symbol of the religious devotion of Mesagne. It is located in the oldest part of the town, in the central Piazza IV Novembre. The church is a remarkable example of Apulian Baroque art. Probably built in 14th or 15th century, it was enlarged with the addition of the choir in 1577 and the sacristy in 1587. In 1649, after a probable structural collapse, the church was rebuilt in the Baroque style by the architect Francesco Capodieci. Another extension was added, with a new sacristy and bell tower (1654), built by the Universitas on the ruins of the old bishop's palace. 

Unfortunately, the earthquake of February 1743 caused much structural damage. The engineer Giuseppe Palmieri was in charge of the reconstruction of the ceiling. He replaced the original paneling with a splendid ogival vault with pointed lunettes, later decorated by the Neapolitan workers who enriched it with the airy stucco decorations that can be seen today. During the restoration, the church was further enriched with ornaments, polychrome marbles, wooden furniture and beautifully painted canvases. The organ, by Maestro Giovanni Valle, dates from 1777.

The imposing façade, marked by the three architectural orders, has the twelve statues of the Apostles and a bas-relief of the Madonna del Carmine with the coat of arms of the town. Inside, the Latin cross plan is illuminated by large oval windows in the ceiling sails and by the large semi-elliptical dome at the crossing of the transepts. From the floor, a double staircase leads up to the high altar and the apse. At the back. the stairs lead to the 16th-century crypt, an underground room with vaults supported by columns, which houses a statue of the Madonna with Child.