CRYPTS AND ROCKY SETTLEMENTS IN MONOPOLI
The essential condition for the development of rocky
settlements in Monopoli was closely linked to the
efficiency of the roads which used to connect villages
and hamlets.
The rocky villages had their origin in the geological
comformation of this very friable territory due to
the wide presence of limestone tuff.
The phenomenon of concentrating little settlements
around cult places was really widespread in the territory.
These places were never considered to be Monasteries
in order to avoid that local bishops could seize the
surrounding soils. In fact, in the X century Basileo
II had passed a law which forbid the denomination
of ‘Monastery’ for this kind of structures.
Inside, the crypt presents a very simple structure.
They have been called ’basiliane’ because in the VII
century, due to iconoclast clashes, many monks of
"S. Basilio" arrived in Apulia keeping on
professing their cult to S.Basilio and bringing examples
of devotional figurative art, alters, capitals, and
icons of oriental origin.
(Francesco
Pepe, Monopoli città unica Guida Turistica
e Culturale, Zaccaria Edizioni, Monopoli 1996)
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