The Church of Santa Maria Assunta is the main religious building in Miranda, located on Via Duomo. Construction began around 1493 but was halted as the site was used as a cemetery. It wasn’t until the Napoleonic reforms mandated cemeteries outside towns that construction resumed, thanks to the dedication of local brothers Antonio and Enrico Celli. The church was completed in 1891.
The structure features three naves: the central one measures 28x12x8 meters, the side naves 28x4x6. The main altar is adorned with a gilded brass panel donated by Prince Francesco Caracciolo Stella, while the altar of Saint Anthony is made of rare ancient Sicilian stone. The church houses a remarkable 18th-century organ with pipes gilded in gold, zinc, and copper, crafted by local goldsmiths and organ builders. The first bell was made with gold and iron collected from the townspeople, but it was later seized during WWII by fascist authorities, despite local resistance.
Equally fascinating is the story of the Chapel of Santa Lucia, located in the “Coste Grandi”. Once a grazing area, a widowed shepherd and his daughter lived in a cave with a crude painting of the saint. After brigand raids, the site was abandoned until a young shepherdess rediscovered the painting, glowing with mysterious light. The miracle rallied the townspeople, who carried the image back—only managing to lift it after the church bells rang. A tabernacle was built near the cave, later replaced by the current chapel which now houses the sacred image.