Located in the heart of the ancient village of Ferrazzano, the Archpriest Church of Santa Maria Assunta is one of the most important places of worship in Molise, able to tell a story that has its roots in the 11th and 12th centuries. Evidence of this are the carved inscriptions including a dated 1065 still visible on the overarch of the main portal.
Originally the building had three aisles, with a majestic bell tower visible 30 miles away. However, it collapsed in 1658 due to lightning, causing serious damage to the structure. For this reason, in 1726 the church was completely renovated and transformed into a single nave hall with an elevated ceiling – an intervention that unfortunately was not carried out with adequate lateral reinforcements. Structural problems required further restoration, the last of which took place in 1962 under the supervision of Mons. Giovanni Cerio, with frescoes executed by Giovanni Passeri, which replaced the previous ones of Amedeo Trivisonno of 1927.
The interior is enriched by seven side altars that house statues of highly venerated saints including San Rocco, Sant’Antonio, San Michele and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Of particular value is the statue of San Giuseppe, a work by Paolo Saverio Di Zinno, famous sculptor campobassano of the eighteenth century. In front of the altar is a 13th century baptismal font, finely decorated with symbolic motifs, including the classic Crucifix Lamb.
The real artistic jewel of the church is the 13th century Romanesque pulpit, unique in all Molise. Shaped like a case, it rests on four sculpted columns and displays a rich repertoire of vegetal, figurative and symbolic motifs. Vine branches, masks, animals and human figures stand out in dynamic attitudes, carved on earth-colored marble of Siena with Gothic refinement.
On the outside, the 13th century Romanesque portal is decorated with Corinthian columns, an arch rich in floral motifs and a lunette with a large bird, symbol of the faithful who feed on heavenly food.
A local legend says that the church is one of the hundred built in one night by King Bove, to obtain the papal dispensation to marry his sister. Myth and faith are intertwined, making of Santa Maria Assunta not only a monument, but an identity symbol for the entire community.