The Basilica of Saint Maria can be found at the entrance of Parabita, on the way to Gallipoli. Inside is a mixture of frescos, among them an illustration of the Virgin Mary that dates back to the 12th Century. The Basilica is a pleasing mix of styles, like the Romanesque-Byzantine, Romanesque from the Puglia region and Gothic capably re-interpreted by the architect Napoleone Pagliarulo in 1913. Pope John Paul II elevated the status of the sanctuary to that of minor basilica in 1999.
