Chiesa Santa Maria della Grazia (Saint Mary of Graces Church), Lecce

The Church of Saint Mary of Graces is a Baroque-era religious building constructed in the late 16th century after the discovery of a 14th-century fresco depicting the Virgin and Child.

Designed by Michele Coluccio, the church showcases the simple yet refined style typical of the Counter-Reformation period. Its façade is organized into two levels framed by Corinthian columns and pilasters, centered around an ornate entrance topped with a tympanum depicting the Virgin and Child with angels. Statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul occupy niches beside the doorway, while a statue of the Virgin Mary sits at the very top of the façade.

Inside, the church consists of a single nave adorned with a walnut cruciform ceiling crafted by Vespasiano Genuino da Gallipoli. This artisan also created the crucifix on the right altar and sculptural reliefs such as "The Virgin of Grace" and "The Trinity Crowning the Virgin."

The interior holds important artworks, including 18th-century paintings by Oronzo Tiso that depict scenes like the Assumption and the Adoration of the Shepherds. Visitors can also admire the original 14th-century fresco of the Virgin and Child, offering a glimpse into the church’s long artistic and devotional history.