Madonna delle Grazie - Andrano

Every first Saturday of August is celebrated to Andrano, municipality in the province of Lecce, the feast of the patron saint, Our Lady of Grace.

The origin of the cult is still very uncertain, still trying to shed light on its history. Going back in time, the streets and gave the most reliable, historians themselves, more help to establish a chronological, there are two, namely: a document and a picture. Both are a strong testimony of the great faith of the inhabitants of Andrano that, in some circumstances, over and over again, and prayed and asked the intercession of Our Lady.

- The first, therefore, is a letter written by the mayor, the settlers and priests Andrano Archbishop of Otranto and the Bishop of Castro. The document is today preserved in the historical archives of the Diocese of Otranto and collects the prayers and thanks to all members of the community, turning to Santa, so help them, they got the miracle. The grace consisted in having won salvation for a family of six, following the collapse of the tower on their home caused by a tornado on the night of October 17, 1819.

- The second element, which confirms the veneration of Andranesi the Madonna delle Grazie, is represented by a fresco found in the wall of a former convent of the Dominicans. The painting is represented the scene of the attack by the Saracens against the Apulian territory. The affesco reproduces the figure of the Madonna that monitors from the scene while the flames coming out of the doors and the windows of a church, threaten the enemy invader away. The assault in question dates back to 1480, the year of numerous invasions and consequent destruction by the Saracens, just think of the massacre of the "800 martyrs of Otranto".

The festivities in honor of Our Lady of Grace go on for the entire weekend, with events mainly of a religious nature. Is warmly procession from the Mother Church to the Church of the Madonna dell'Attarico, after which it is held, generally, a small concert and at the same time the distribution of puccia with the "Festival of puccie cu the olives".