Church of Santa Maria Maggiore

The church’s foundation dates back to the 10^th Century and stands as the ultimate site embodying the historical memoirs of Vasto. The external view is dominated by the powerful mass of the bell tower, adorned with elegant Romanic windows, each denoting a different style, richly sculpted in white stone during the first half of the 14^th Century. The tower rises on a pre-existing bastion which is still visible, dominated by the “Battaglia” perhaps a past defence point of the old medieval nucleus. Before 1735 the Church had one nave with a trussed ceiling and the entrance was located on Via Santa Maria. The area of the actual main entrance consisted of a portico where the catechumens used to retreat during the Mass, right after the reading of the Gospel. What remains of this construction traced back to 1234, are two hexagonal pillars wedged into the perimeter walls, complete with bases and capitals. Only in 1785 was the Church completely restructured with three naves.
What catches your eye as you enter the church is the beautiful and elegant valve balustrade leading into the crypt where the remains of Saint Cesario Martyr are kept, dressed as a warrior and with an ampoule containing the blood donated by Cesare Michelangelo d'Avalos on 3^rd November 1695. The saint’s protection was invoked by the Vasto people during the earthquake. The right nave conserves the tombs of the d’Avalos family and the chapel where the relic of the Holy Thorn is venerated, and which came from the crown of Christ given by Louis IX to the Saint in Notre Dame of Paris and in turn donated by Pope Pius IV to Ferrante Francesco d’Avalos around the middle of the 16^th Century.
The left nave displays valuable paintings of the 16^th Century belonging to the Venetian school of Paolo Veronese and Tiziano, such as the “Lo Sposalizio di S. Caterina” and the “Ecce Homo”. At the back, the “Madonna del Gonfalone” is displayed, also belonging to the 16^th Century with the “Battesimo di S. Agostino”, of the Venetion school. Other authentic art masterpieces are: the main altar accomplished in 1573 by Venetian sculptors, the tabernacle in copper and silver of 1545, the copper-golden Monstrance of the school of Nicola da Guardiagrele, the wooden choir and prestigious organ of 1719.