The Church of the Black Franciscans in Specchia, together with its adjoining convent, is one of the most fascinating religious complexes in Salento, a repository of a history that intertwines faith, art and tradition. Its foundation is linked to the Franciscan presence in the area and is definitively dated to 1531, the year in which the Chapter of the Black Franciscans was held, although tradition holds that St Francis of Assisi, on his return from the Holy Land around 1210, predicted the establishment of a monastery for his order in this very place.

The interior of the church is complex and rich in devotional elements. The high altar is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, whilst four side altars are dedicated to St Francis, Joseph of Cupertino, Our Lady of Lourdes and Bernardine of Siena. Among the most interesting details are the coat of arms of the Protonobilissimo family on the first altar on the right, a fresco depicting Anthony of Padua, and a bull by Benedict XIV dated 1751 engraved on the second altar on the right. On the left-hand side, decorative elements reminiscent of the Renaissance style stand out.

The Chapel of Saint Catherine, entirely covered in frescoes, is of extraordinary value. The walls feature figures of the prophets, whilst the upper section depicts scenes relating to the martyrdom of Catherine of Alexandria, flanked by saints such as Cosmas, Damian and Agatha. An inscription dated 1532 allows the pictorial cycle to be dated, providing a valuable artistic and historical record.

On the wall opposite the entrance, Christ is depicted ascending to Calvary, whilst beneath the archway of the door appear Saint Leonard and, in the upper section, the Cumaean Sibyl, a rare and evocative iconographic element.

The crypt is also of great charm, supported by no fewer than 38 columns of Lecce stone, some with octagonal bases and others cylindrical, creating a solemn and evocative atmosphere, a testament to the ancient convent structure.

The convent, built around 1400 at the behest of the Del Balzo family, has served various purposes over the centuries. Entrusted to the Daughters of Charity in the 19th century, it housed a nursery and a girls’ boarding school, continuing to fulfil a social as well as a religious role.

Today, the Church of the Black Franciscans is one of Specchia’s most significant sites, capable of recounting, through its works and spaces, centuries of devotion, art and community life.