Mar Piccolo and the Cervaro River

Ancient maps of Mar Piccolo
now in the State Archive of Taranto

 

 

 

 

The Convent was built in 1597 near the source of the small Cervaro River (on the Mar Piccolo).

Monks had lived there in an earlier small convent since 1533 and possessed the right to exploit nearby sea waters. They had a concession to fish and retain the produce from the neighbouring land and sea. The convent comprised a very simple little church, some small rooms with a sacristy, a kitchen, a refectory and workshops for the manufacture of woollen cloth. Eight cells constituted the upper floor. The whole building was included within a bailey wall interrupted by the Church façade and by a portal.
The convent was confiscated in 1867 and became private property.