Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Romanesque church in Cerveteri, Italy.
Description
The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore combines two sections: the medieval structure dating to around 1100 and a modern addition from 1950. The ancient section features three naves supported by repurposed columns, while the newer wing extends the worship space.
History
Construction began around 1100, though excavations in the 1950s uncovered large tufa blocks beneath the building. These findings suggest an Etruscan temple may have occupied the site before the church was built.
Culture
The interior columns come from ancient Caere monuments and show how earlier structures were incorporated into the church design. This layering reveals how the site was used and reused across different periods.
Practical
The entrance to the medieval section is located at the far end of the right nave and is accessible daily. Morning or late afternoon visits offer the best lighting to see the interior details.
Did you know?
Inside hangs a painting from 1472 titled "Madonna on Throne with Child" that bears the signature of Lorenzo da Viterbo. This work is remarkable because signed pieces by artists from that period are uncommon to encounter.
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