In the village of Acquaviva Collecroce, a small town in Molise with strong Croatian roots, stands the Church of Santa Maria Ester, a building that tells centuries of history, spirituality and cultural identity.
The church’s origins date back to the second half of the 16th century when it was built at the behest of the Order of Malta. According to tradition, it was built as a votive offering by Croatian immigrants, who were deeply Christian and participated in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.
In 1715, the building was entirely rebuilt in Baroque style, as evidenced by a Latin inscription still visible on the side door. The church today has a rectangular plan with three naves: the central one, wide and vaulted, ends in an apse surmounted by an octagonal dome. The side naves, divided into chapels covered by small domes and connected by round arches, are supported by columns with stone bases.
The exterior has two facades: the main one facing the old village and the rear one facing the square of the new settlement. Both are marked by stone pilasters, with a higher central part completed by an elegant convex crowning. The main portal is decorated with symmetrical ornamental friezes, while a blind window opens at the top. The roof is pitched with terracotta tiles.
A mysterious “magic square” is engraved on the bell tower, the origin of which remains unknown. Even the true meaning of the enigmatic words “ROTAS OPERA TENET AREPO SATOR” is still the subject of interpretations and debates, without a definitive explanation.
Inside, there are precious paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries, including Our Lady of Sorrows, Saint Michael the Archangel, the Madonna del Carmelo and the Martyrdom of Saint Biagio. Also noteworthy are the statues of Saint Michael and the Immaculate Conception sculpted by Di Zinno, a well-known artist from Molise, and an evocative 18th-century baptismal font, with a stone base and upper part in carved walnut wood, decorated with an eagle.
The Church of Santa Maria Ester is an authentic treasure chest of art and spirituality, which preserves the historical soul of the Croatian-Molisan community of Acquaviva Collecroce.