The Church of St. Nicholas, an important historical and religious landmark, stands on the ruins of an ancient Romanesque building, which was destroyed and rebuilt several times by earthquakes in the 14th and 18th centuries. Remains such as a stone lion from the 1200s and a stoup from 1587 tell the story of its origins.
After the 1805 earthquake, the church was again rebuilt with a basilica layout, embellished with fine stucco work. However, a new disaster struck the building on March 8, 1847 when the roof collapsed under the weight of snow. King Ferdinand II of Bourbon financed the reconstruction.
Between 1969 and 1977 a general restoration restored solidity and splendor to the building, which now measures 37 meters long, 11.5 meters wide and 12 meters in average height. Twin bell towers decorate the facade, while 14 large windows illuminate the interior.
Originally a receptive church, St. Nicholas was elevated to a collegiate church in 1808. Inside it preserves seven altars and a very rich artistic heritage: the wooden statue of St. Nicholas, carved by Giacomo Colombo in 1724, stands out, two meters high and finely detailed. Next to it are two small frescoes, two ancient panels of the Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi, a 13th-century carved jamb with the Holy Trinity, three 18th-century canvases and a large canvas attributed to Mattia Preti or his school.
Also of value are the frescoes painted in 1929 by Amedeo Trivisonno, which adorn the dome and side walls, and the statue of co-patron Saint Anne. Behind the main altar stands the Immaculate Conception by Giuseppe Tiberio (1931).
A monumental organ from 1800, an 18th-century wooden pulpit, the majestic polychrome marble high altar, and the baptistery from 1713 complete the work.
The Church of St. Nicholas, between art and devotion, continues to be a valuable heritage for the local community.