Church of Santa Maria a Mare, Roman Catholic church in Giulianova, Italy.
Church of Santa Maria a Mare is a brick building with a bell gable and hanging arches along its perimeter, crowned by a marble portal with travertine and porphyry decorations. The interior shows two naves, with blocked arches on the left wall indicating an original three-part layout.
The building dates to the 10th century and stands as the last remaining structure of medieval Giulianova. It survived World War II bombardments when many other historic buildings in the city were destroyed.
The portal displays intricate reliefs with floral patterns, animal figures, and human faces created by Raimondo del Podio in the 14th century. This decoration reflects the artistic tradition that shaped churches of the medieval period.
The building is located on Via Annunziata and is easy to access. The church remains actively used and visitors should be respectful of services or private prayer that may be taking place.
The interior reveals traces of the original three-nave layout through blocked arches on the left wall, showing that the church did not always exist in its current two-nave form. This change shows how the building had to adapt to new needs over the centuries.
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