Santa Maria di Castello, Romanesque church in Alessandria, Italy.
Santa Maria di Castello is a Romanesque church perched on a hilltop in Alessandria, built with stone in the traditional style of that period. The interior contains multiple side chapels and artworks spanning different eras.
Construction took place between the 15th and 16th centuries, with the consecration marking a change in religious authority over the church. Beneath the current building lie foundations from an 8th-century structure.
The name refers to its hillside location, a place where people have gathered for worship across generations. Visitors today experience this role through the religious artworks and the building's architecture, which reflect the community's devotion.
The church sits on a slope, requiring a bit of climbing to reach it, but the elevated position offers peaceful surroundings. Take time to walk slowly through the interior and appreciate each chapel and artwork without rushing.
Inside, visitors can see a late medieval wooden crucifix positioned above the altar that dates back to when construction was finishing. Nearby stands a stone sculptural group depicting a biblical scene that many people walk past without noticing.
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