Nardò - Basilica cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta

The Romans conquered Nardò in 269 BC and built the Via Traiana through it. After the fall of the Western Empire and following the battles between Byzantines and Goths, it was absorbed into the Byzantine Empire and, for a brief period, was annexed to the Lombard Kingdom. Between 901 and 924 Nardò was attacked and sacked by Saracens from Sicily. In 1055 the Normans conquered the town and the Benedictine monks were allowed to settle. The second half of the 13th century was followed by Angevin rule, which determined the birth and spread of feudalism.

An early Christian/Byzantine was the predecessor church when under Norman rule, the church was built in 1088. The building suffered from frequent earthquakes. So some arches inside were rebuilt in Gothic style and the floor was raised by 40 centimeters. In the second half of the 13th century, the church tower was built, which in the 14th century, was incorporated to enlarge the church, which also received a new facade.

In the middle of the 15th century, after earthquakes, renewed stabilization measures had to be carried out on the columns and arches. At the beginning of the 18th century, an extensive baroqueization took place with a new facade, main altar and renovation of the side chapels. In 1743 the town of Nardò was again severely damaged by an earthquake. The church tower, rebuilt afterward, fell into the left nave after a lightning strike in 1815.

The crucifix is called "Cristo Nero" and probably dates from the 13th/14th century. However, according to legend, it dates back to Nardò's Byzantine period. It is said to have been damaged during a Saracen attack and the bleeding of a finger is said to have frightened the Saracens.