Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, Baroque Catholic church in Augusta, Italy
The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta is a baroque church with a two-tiered facade and three entrances, crowned by a bell tower featuring three openings with wrought iron balconies. The interior divides into three naves that together create a spacious religious space.
After the 1693 earthquake destroyed the original church, this building became the first religious structure rebuilt in Augusta. Construction extended until 1769, making it a symbol of the city's recovery.
The interior displays ten lunette paintings showing the Virgin Mary from the Annunciation through to her Dormition, accompanied by several side altars. These images tell a continuous story that visitors can follow as they move through the nave.
The church sits at Piazza Duomo facing east, with three separate entrances on the main facade for each section. Visitors can freely enter and explore all three naves, as they connect to each other from the inside.
The marble main altar contains low reliefs showing symbols of faith and hope, surrounded by artistic representations of Abraham's sacrifice. This crafted detail demonstrates how baroque churches expressed complex theological themes through stone and marble.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.