Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Montone)

Address: Via Fonte Alessio - Montone

Church of Santa Maria Assunta. The first record of a church under the title of S. Mary, we have in a case of dispute for the benefit of one of its chapels, where it is called Parrocchialis S. Mariae located extra et prope moenia (in 1575). Other news are based on pastoral visits of the bishops of Teramo: Bishop Ricci in 1582, Archbishop Visconti (1618), Bishop Figini (1642) and Armenian Bishop (1685), who calls this church " extra castrum Montoni ". Common judgment of these bishops is the poor conditions of the temple. In the following years, the Church was certainly restored and enlarged with three naves, in fact, during the visit of Bishop Pirelli (1780), we have a  more detailed description of it: “... it is manufactured entirely of brick and has three naves, two of which are at the side and are covered by a  roof, and the middle one, beyond the roof, has the ceiling and the floor  of brick ... it has a small sacristy ... and in the tower there are three bells”. Then follows the detailed description of the main altar of the side chapels and their altars, of the sacred images and paintings.

In 1890, however, Bishop Trotta finds this church again in  a "miserable state" and in 1909 Bishop Zanecchia says literally that "the Church is in such a state of abandonment that it really arouses piety".

On this church, in 1914, began the work of construction of the new one. These works, designed by the local artist Francesco Patella, were strongly wanted by the parish priest of the time, Don Gaetano Cardelli.

The inauguration took place in May 1934. Inside the temple are preserved ancient paintings of exquisite workmanship, such as the Annunciation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Last Supper and the Virgin of the Rosary.

(from “Montone - Analisi storica e proposta di recupero ambientale ed edilizio” di Maddalena e Gabriella Ferrajoli – Media Editoria – Mosciano S.A”).