Santa Maria Maggiore
The collegiate of Santa Maria Maggiore that dates back to the Fifth
century is located on the square that takes its name. It was built on the
remains of a pagan temple dedicated to Venus. In the thirteenth century
it was completely transformed, and it acquired the Romanesque-Gothic
traits still visible today. The outside of the church is characterised by
gabled facades, with three gates decorated with painted lunettes. One
of the central gates illustrates the Virgin and the Child dating back to the
late Fourteenth century, whereas the ones on the sides are now erased.
Immediately above the central gate there is a magnificent rose window.
The bell tower was added in 1394, as testified by a plaque with the coat
of arms of Bonifaz IX. It is characterised by a double order of mullioned
windows, with small columns and capitals different for each mullioned
window. On the top there are buttresses with crenellated tops.
The inside of the collegiate, simple and minimalist, is composed of three
naves. At the end of the central nave, which is articulated by massive
pillars on which lie on round arches with interesting chalice capitals and
f
loral frieze, there is a profound quadrangular apse. The lateral naves are
different: the one on the right is narrower, is divided in six spans and, at
the end of it, there is a small apse whose vault is covered in a golden
mosaic. The greater nave on the left has four asymmetric naves and a
chapel dedicated to the Virgin of the Libera. From the left nave it is
possible to access a series of chapels in which are conserved
numerous important art works. The wooden group illustrates the Virgin
of Costantinopoli, realised by an anonymous artist from Lazio between
the Twelfth and the Thirteenth century. The triptych is composed of
three boards; the central one illustrates the "Salvator Mundi" or the
Blessing Christ, whereas the two on the sides illustrate the Virgin with
the Child and Saint Sebastian. On the right of the presbytery, there is
the baptismal font that dates back to 1200. Other works that can be
seen today are: the Virgin of Liberty, a fresco from the Fourteenth
century located in a chapel at the end of the chapel on the left, the
Tabernacle of the Renaissance, a work in marble from the Fifth century composed by an apsal recess on the top of which there is a tympanum.
On the inside of the third chapel there is a Filippo Baldi's painting from
1869 illustrating St. Francis of Paola and Andrea Conti. Near the
staircase that leads to the bell tower, there is a fresco, dating back to
the last Gothic period, that illustrates a Virgin on the Throne with St
Lorenzo. Lastly, there can be admired a reed organ, situated in a recess
on the right of the high altare.