In the heart of the historic center, the Church of St. Bartholomew stands as an architectural jewel dating back to the 13th century, capable of telling centuries of history and art. The simple and severe facade is characterized by a horizontal crowning with a raised central part and a pseudo-prothyrum: two blind arcades supported by columns leaning against the wall frame a richly decorated portal. This very portal is one of the most fascinating elements: in the archivolt inside the lunette are carved symbols of the tetramorph (the four evangelists) and biblical figures engraved in relief, with the judging Christ at the center of the scene.
The three-aisled interior is punctuated by columns without bases and with geometric capitals, in the Romanesque style, although there is no shortage of Gothic elements, such as two portals from a later period, and details from different historical periods. Among the works preserved in the church are the wooden statues of the Virgin Mary and St. Bartholomew, made by Paolo Saverio Di Zinno, a famous 18th-century Molise artist. Also of great importance is a painting of the Crucifixion by painter Paolo De Matteis, as well as the remains of an ancient medieval fresco.
A major restoration, completed in 2011 thanks to a donation from Avv. Pistilli, has made it possible to return the church to the community, enhancing both the structure and its rich artistic heritage.
Also preserved inside the church is a monumental stationary cross, more than a meter high and dating from the 14th to 15th centuries, considered one of the largest in Molise. Its decorations echo typical Abruzzese astylar crosses, with four-lobed finials and relief representations of the crucified Christ, the Virgin, St. John and symbols of the four evangelists. On the back, the figure of Christ Pantocrator dominates the scene, unfortunately damaged by past sloppy restoration.
The Church of St. Bartholomew, with its mixture of styles and iconographic richness, represents a precious testimony to the spirituality, culture, and art that have crossed Molise over the centuries. A place to discover to understand the evolution of sacred art in the heart of central-southern Italy.