The Church of Santa Maria, XII century

It is found on the wall of the castle nearby the main entrance, called precisely "S.Maria". The building, all made with local limestone squared and chiselworked, looks imposing and austere, typical of a Gothic-primitive style.

Its building took place between the year 1165, in which the village was burned by imperial soldiers, and the year 1177, when in September 8th the church was solemnly consecrated by three bishops and dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

In the year 1291, as it says the inscription on the pulpit, the church was complete by Pietro Gulimari of Priverno. The nature of completion is still unknown. We know that in the second half of the eighteenth century added to the church was the circular apse and the hall-capitular with the external corridor. The work was carried out by masters Alessandro Gonzales and Andrea De Santis in the years 1759-1766.

Evidently, all these additional works, perhaps dictated by necessities of the time, have altered the original linearity of the building. The furious gunfire of the year 1944 caused serious damage to the front, sides and to the vaults of the building. The damage was repaired in the successive years by Sopraintendenza ai Monumenti del Lazio.

The tower, a bulk structure surmounted by a spire and refined by mullioned windows with two lights, cornices and corbels, is contemporary of the church, apart from the side facing the main square up to the second floor, showing a structure more ancient and maybe it is a relic of the 1165 fire.

From the data set forth above, it clearly appears that the church of S. Maria is about 20 years older than its sister church of Fossanova, itself built in 1187 and consecrated in 1208. The church of S. Maria is therefore to be considered the first national monument of that primitive ogival architecture introduced in Italy by French Cistercians. The church, furthermore, was officiated by the monks themselves for about three centuries from its foundation. The occurrence, although it is not confirmed by written documents, it is however supported by clear traces left by their presence, furnishings, relics, paintings linked to the Cistercian history, tradition and art.

The church is of basilica-like shape. The interior has three naves which are divided by eight rectangular pilasters, the last four of them reinforced by leaning pillars. The capitals are adorned with leaves, pointed arches and cross vaults. Where the first four simple pilasters are, the ceiling is truss covered. The light gets inside through 18 narrow long windows and two rose windows. The nave ends with an added circular apse; the aisles end with two rectangular chapels. The original building stands on a rectangular plan whom sides measure m. 26x16. In this ancient church are kept numerous art treasures, such as:

Many more art treasures are found in the sacrarium and in the sacristy.

Thanks to Mauro Rotondi & Beverley Wheatley
 

Photo Gallery

Back to top

:: All images are property of the author of the site ::
Any use in part is prohibited unless authorized
 

Other pages : Home, History, Churches, St.Lorenzo's Martyr's blood, Traditions, Dialect,  Search, Photo Gallery, Territory, Comments, Links, Bibliography, Full Screen Mode, About, Mail