Church of Santa Maria Assunta

Almost certainly dating back to the 12th century, the church was elevated to the rank of Collegiate Church in 1407 by royal decree of Ladislaus of Anjou-Durazzo, King of Naples. Even today, a careful observer can identify significant elements recalling late Neapolitan Gothic, expressed through perspectival devices that create an impression of greater depth. These features suggest that the structural core of the central nave belonged to the original medieval church, later adapted to suit the late Baroque taste of the 18th century.

Over the centuries, side chapels from different periods were added to the central nave. The church retains its 18th-century Neoclassical façade, articulated by four Doric pilasters supporting a broad entablature, as well as an elegant bell tower rising 37 metres, designed by Pietro Magarelli and completed in 1731. The tower is crowned by a distinctive onion-shaped dome, a striking landmark visible from several kilometres away.

The restrained exterior contrasts sharply with the richness of the interior stucco decoration. Inside, the church is arranged in three naves, with the two side aisles providing access to chapels that are true treasure chests of art. Among the most significant works are the polychrome stone sculptures of the Madonna di Terra Rossa and the Holy Trinity by the Renaissance artist Stefano da Putignano; important canvases and wall paintings by Giuseppe De Mattia, Alessio D’Elia, Nicola De Filippis, Nicola Gliri, and Nicola Colonna; as well as 18th-century wooden furnishings including the organ, choir loft, and pulpit, and the 17th-century wooden sculpture of Saint James by the Neapolitan artist Aniello Stellato.

Within the church there is also a chapel serving as the mausoleum of the Moles family, designed in a late Renaissance style. Its altar is finely decorated in local stone and features niches housing polychrome stone statues produced after the time of Stefano da Putignano, yet clearly inspired by the master or his artistic circle.