The Church of Santa Maria a Mare

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The church of Santa Maria a Mare dates back to the 1200’s when it was built by the Hermits of Sant’Agostino. The architectural events of this building have had alternating vicissitudes over the course of history, up to the current structure which is the result of the union of three pre-existing churches. The main entrance, on Piazza Lattanzi, was moved to one side of the ancient church in the seventeenth century and consists of a sober brick and sandstone facade, where a simple portal with a triangular tympanum is surmounted by a modest rose window. The beautiful bell tower originates from the thirteenth-century building.

The interior is divided into three naves with rib vaults and it is the result of a restoration in 1911, lead by Sigismondo Nardi, in order to give back to the entire building a primitive look like the old presbytery. Nardi frescoed with the same purpose the vaults with the image of the Assumption and the Theological and Cardinal Virtues in a starry sky. In the presbytery’s area (at the bottom), once completely frescoed, there are still different painting testaments included between the XIV and XVI century. On the left side a large St. Sebastian is located above and below a Madonna with Angels and again St. Sebastian, group attributed to Paolo da Visso. On the left side an arcosolium tomb showing a well preserved fresco from the school of Marche of the XIV century, representing a Madonna with the Child between Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Paul. On the left wall of the side nave, a noteworthy fragment showing an incredible face of a Saint attributed to Salimbeni’s school from San Severino Marche (XV century). The church has been since Middle Ages an important centre of Marian devotion.

Outside the Church, a large panoramic view allows the eye to extend along the sandy shores dominating the residential area of Porto San Giorgio, the modern tourist port and the ancient sanctuary of Santa Maria a Mare, an important devotional centre since Middle Ages.