In the historic center of Campomarino stands the Church of Santa Maria a Mare, an architectural jewel dating back to the 12th-13th century that, over the centuries, has undergone numerous transformations, particularly during the 16th century, which have modified its original Romanesque style, giving it its current appearance.
Despite the changes, the church still retains some features of its original structure: remains of the perimeter walls, a door now bricked up, windows with pointed arches and two Romanesque apses. The building, built in stone, is distinguished by a series of hanging arches resting on brackets and lateral pilasters. The restoration work has brought to light significant architectural elements of the ancient structure, such as the bases of the columns and pillars.
Inside, two altars in inlaid polychrome marble dating back to between 1750 and 1774 and a valuable carved stone holy water stoup stand out. The finely carved and painted wooden pulpit is also particularly fascinating. Along the right wall are 19th-century devotional works: a statue of Saint Anthony of Padua in painted papier-mâché and a wooden bust of Saint Christina, carved, painted and silvered. The church also houses numerous sacred furnishings and ecclesiastical ornaments from the 18th and 19th centuries, displayed between the main hall and the sacristy.
One of the most fascinating spaces is the crypt, rectangular in shape with three apses, which preserves sculpted columns, 12th-century capitals and arches made from smooth stone blocks. The decorations recall plant motifs typical of local Romanesque art. The frescoes that are still visible offer a glimpse of medieval religious iconography: the figure of Saint Nicholas in bishop’s robes, a saint on horseback with a lance (Saint George or Saint Demetrius) and an enigmatic figure crushed by a horse, a possible allusion to a historic Turkish incursion along the Adriatic coast, stand out.
The Church of Santa Maria a Mare represents a crossroads of faith, art and historical memory. With its ancient charm and the mysteries of the crypt, it is an essential stop for those who wish to discover the deep roots of the religious heritage of Molise.