| The mother church is dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary and was built in the fifteenth century in the historical center on the ruins of a Byzantine church dedicated to "of Santa Maria de Nova", using the local stone (carparo). The building has been awarded to Raymond of Francavilla.
The construction work, part of which was executed under the direction of Fra 'Giambattista Alliata, started in the second half of the fifteenth century (the presbytery and choir), ended in the early sixteenth century with the construction of the nave and two aisles, to complete the basilica plan of the building.
The facade is divided into two overlapping orders; the top is a rose window made during the restoration of the mid-twentieth century, replacing a "baroque window" built on the ancient rose after the 1743 earthquake.
The interior has a basilica plan, the nave is covered by a barrel vault built in 1500, supported by slightly pointed arches resting on columns with capitals richly decorated with heads, animals, flowers and acanthus leaves. The aisles have vaults of eighteenth century, built after the collapse of the old roof in 1743. |