Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Assunta, Romanesque church in Castello district, Gragnano, Italy.
Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Assunta is a Romanesque church with three aisles supported by columns featuring Corinthian, Doric, and Ionic capitals. A stone staircase with three arches in Siculo-Arabic style leads up to the building's entrance platform.
The church became a national monument in 1927 and underwent restoration that uncovered original structures in the narthex area. This work revealed architectural layers hidden beneath later modifications.
Inside, you can see a triptych painted by artists from Naples and a canvas showing the Assumption created during the 1500s. These artworks reveal how people expressed their faith through local artistic traditions.
Access involves climbing a steep stone staircase, so wear comfortable shoes and allow time for the ascent. The building sits in the Castello district, where narrow lanes are typical of the neighborhood.
The bell tower was built between the 15th and 16th centuries and merges Romanesque and Moorish design elements in one structure. Its square base transitions to an octagonal dome, creating an unusual architectural combination rarely seen elsewhere.
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