Santa Maria delle Stelle, Minor basilica in Comiso, Italy

Santa Maria delle Stelle is the mother church and minor basilica of Comiso, measuring 63 by 23 metres inside. Fifteen altars line the central nave, the two side aisles and the transept ends; the main altar is dedicated to the Birth of Mary. The white stone Baroque facade has three storeys, four statues of saints on the second, and a central bell tower topped by an onion dome.

Construction began in the 14th century, but a major earthquake in 1693 forced a complete rebuilding. The work was not finished until 1936 after centuries of ongoing restoration efforts.

The wooden ceiling displays scenes from the Bible, carved with intricate detail by local craftsmen who brought religious stories to life in wood. This artistic work connects faith with the skilled traditions that the community has valued for generations.

The basilica sits in central Comiso and welcomes visitors year-round, though access is easiest during times when public worship takes place. Check locally for when the doors are open to the public for viewing.

The first public clock in Comiso was mounted on the outer wall of the south-east transept in the early 16th century. In 1881 it was replaced by a newer mechanism and moved to the church of the Madonna delle Grazie, where the old clock still is.