The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Ducal Castle make an only, great, fascinating monumental complex which dominates the Sangro Aventino valley up to majestic Maiella massif. In 1455 the Orsini princes turned the Palatine Chapel into the church of Santa Maria Assunta, and in XVII century the D’Aquino family added the central nave, the apse and the right nave. In 1868 it underwent restoration works which gave the church its neoclassical appearance, with its fine double staircase leading to the main entrance on the façade. At that time the church was given its current name: Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore.

The harmonious three naves basilica-style inside is made magnificent by the wall paintings, the devotional paintings on the vault, the neoclassical plasters, the furniture and the artistic altars in the apse and side chapels. There is also a rich collection of relevant artistic altar pieces: the most significant is the one dedicated to Madonna del Rosario dated 1572 of the L’Aquila school; in its altar you can find an elegant stone-sculpted tabernacle.

Finally, it is worth to mention a painting of the Saint co-patron of Casoli San Gilberto in gloria dated 1797 by Pasquale Bellonio from Ortona, a Madonna con bambino tra san Giacinto e San Biagio dated 1848 by Francesco Maria de Benedictis and a Madonna del Carmine of the XVI century. The wood small door of the XVI century baptistery is engraved with the most ancient emblem of Casoli representing the arm of the Orsini feudal family.

[Credits | Text: Ottavio Di Renzo De Laurentis | Translation: Mirella Rapa | Voice and music: Studio Qreate | Photo: Laura Di Biase]