In the historic center of Campodipietra, near one of the ancient medieval gates that once demarcated the village, stands the Church of San Martino Vescovo, one of the most significant examples of Baroque architecture in Molise.
The present building, constructed in 1770, replaced a pre-existing church now in ruins. The work was made possible thanks to the resources of Monte Frumentario and the offerings of citizens who contributed building materials such as stone, lime and timber. The project was entrusted to master mason Nunzio Margiotta of Pescopennataro, already the author of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Ripalimosani.
The Baroque facade is richly ornamented and is distinguished by its three portals: the central one, wider and decorated with a sculpture of St. Martinintroduces the main nave. The two side portals, surmounted by oval windows, lead to the smaller naves. The interior of the church is divided into three naves and contains valuable works of art from the 18th century.
Of particular note is the presbytery, which houses five paintings from 1774 by Molise painter Paolo Gamba.. The works depictImmaculate Conception and the four Evangelists.
The wooden choir and pulpit, the latter finely carved and attributed to an artist known only as Dorotea, further enrich the interior. Next to the church is the campanile, costruito su una vecchia torre di un palazzo baronale, un tempo sormontato da una cupola a bulbo, sostituita nel secondo dopoguerra da una copertura piramidale.
The church suffered severe damage during the 2002 earthquake, particularly to the dome, which was damaged by the weight of the beams. After a long period of securing, numerous structural consolidation works were carried out, restoring its full functionality.
Today the Church of San Martino Vescovo represents a landmark for the community of Campodipietra, not only for its religious function, but also as a valuable symbol of the artistic and architectural heritage of Molise.