This content was automatically translated. View the original text.
Church of St Nicholas of Bari in Ascrea: A Story of Feudal Lords and Art in the Turano Valley
In the village of Ascrea, overlooking the Valle del Turano, the Church of San Nicola di Bari is far more than a simple religious building. Its walls tell the story of powerful feudal families, from the Mareri to the princes of Drago. Inside, the paintings are not merely works of art, they are direct witnesses to this past.
The Coat of Arms on the Door
The church is mentioned for the first time in 1438. A pastoral visit in 1574 reveals that it was donna Lavinia Savelli, widow of Francesco Mareri, who wished to have it built. The bond with that family is still visible today. One need only look for the Mareri coat of arms, still carved on the door of the old adjoining church, and a sign of the past.
The Saints of the Lords of Ascrea
Inside, the eye is drawn to several fine canvases, depicting, among others, the Madonna of the Rosary and St Nicholas. But the most significant painting is that depicting Saints Anthony Abbot, Peter and Filippa Mareri, a direct homage to the family that shaped the history of the village for centuries.
Visitable on request or during religious services. The church is located in the historic centre of Ascrea (RI).
