Veduta panoramica di Sovereto

A few km far from Terlizzi, near the Provincial Motorway 231 (S.P.231) there' s Sovereto, an ancient medieval village, which houses, used by Terlizzesi as summer residences, are situated on the two main streets, where is situated the arc of entry of the Sanctuary.

Lastra tombale

The church and the near hospital, in fact, represent the "heart" of Sovereto that, during the Crusades was a point of stop both for pilgrims and for the Crusaders themselves directed to the Holy Ground, going along the consular way Appia Traiana. The Church, that in origin had to be similar to the church of Cesano, preserves paintings and, in the central apse, frescos that represent the Cristo Pantocratico and some apostles. Recently, further frescos have been discovered. Actually the central apse is hidden by the great altar-piece that decorated the altar of the rural church of Ciurcitano. On the flooring of the church there are tomb slabs of three knights that have symbols similar to the typical iconography of Templars. Among the creases of the mantle of the Tutor (fra Ramondo de Bolera) there' s a cross with 8 tips, a coat of arms. The same symbol is represented also on the stoup inside the church, on the right. In the middle a grating closes the entry of the cave, place of the finding of the icon of The Virgin with Child, as the legend tells. .