Antonio Ludovico Antinori from Aquila, tells that the church of the Madonna of the snow was completed and consecrated in 1436 by the valvense bishop Bartholomew, the community of the faithful wanted this as a new and worthy place for the burial of the dead.
The building was built raised approx. 4 metres from the level of road, on a greek cross shaped plan. In the center a square shape, a floorplan very original in its panorama of contemporary architecture of Abruzzo.
After the Battle of Lepanto the name of the church became Santa Maria del Rosario, and here settled a major brotherhood, the devastating earthquake of 1706, which had its epicenter in the Maiella, severely damaged the whole town including this building, which was quickly repaired and upgraded to the contemporary Baroque style.
An elegant double sided staircase connects the street with access to the building, it is accessed through two small wooden doors which lead you onto the two side aisles.
The interior elegant and solemn collects works of art that bear witness to the importance of the place for the local catholic community.
On the right side of the right aisle is a monumental wooden display case with two compartments containing the statue of the dead Christ, solemnly carried in procession during the Holy Week.
In the upper compartment a large wooden cross carries affixed symbols and instruments of the Passion of Christ.
An elegant system of decorative plaster work, frames, figures of cherubs, medallions, create life to the surface of the walls and articulates the architectural space.
The right altar is surmounted by a canvas painting of the Madonna and Child with Saints Dominic and Catherine of Siena; on the side walls, one on each side, two angels support two cameos with the representation of a bust of Christ, left, and of the Madonna on the right.
At the end of the right aisle, a small alcove bears a canvas with the image of St. Anthony the Abbot, on the right the door to the sacristy with the inscription above: O VOS OMNES/VIDETE ED ADMIRAMINI/QUANTA IN HOC TEMPLO/FECERUNT ROSARIANTES PRO MATRE NOSTRA/COM. PERTICONE PROC./ANNO D.NI MDCCLXXII (O you all see and admire the great things as did the devotees of the Rosary in this temple for our mother being prior to Dominico Perticone in the year 1772)
The high altar, housed in the center of an elegant marble structure, the statue of the Madonna and Child, known as the Madonna of the Snow, dating back to the early construction of the building.
Continuing with the tour of the building, the alcove on the left aisle houses the large canvas painted by Oreste Recchione and depicting St. Andrew the Apostle, on his left, beyond a niche is a scroll with the inscription IAM RELINQUO VOS/FRATRES MEI/QUI IN ADIUTORIUM HUIUS TEMPLI /FUISTIS FIDELES/NUNC OBSECRO UT ISTUD/COMPLEATIS / DE COETERO IN DOMINO/GAUDETE/ARCh. D.DOM. ISACCO (Already I entrusted you or my brothers, to come to my aid in the construction of this temple, and now I beg you to complete the rest. Rejoice in the Lord.
The altar in the left aisle has a large canvas of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, in the presence of Joseph and Zechariah; in the two medallions on the sides of the altar are depicted, respectively, St. Michael the Archangel, on the left St. Raphael the Archangel and Tobias on the right.
On the opposite wall above the entrance the old organ built between 1779 and 1787 by Antonio D'Onofrio first, and later the Fedri of Atri workshops - stands within the precious wooden frame carved by master Ferdinando Mosca of Pescocostanzo.
Antonio Ludovico Antinori from Aquila, tells that the church of the Madonna of the snow was completed and consecrated in 1436 by the valvense bishop Bartholomew, the community of the faithful wanted this as a new and worthy place for the burial of the dead.
The building was built raised approx. 4 metres from the level of road, on a greek cross shaped plan. In the center a square shape, a floorplan very original in its panorama of contemporary architecture of Abruzzo.
After the Battle of Lepanto the name of the church became Santa Maria del Rosario, and here settled a major brotherhood, the devastating earthquake of 1706, which had its epicenter in the Maiella, severely damaged the whole town including this building, which was quickly repaired and upgraded to the contemporary Baroque style.
An elegant double sided staircase connects the street with access to the building, it is accessed through two small wooden doors which lead you onto the two side aisles.
The interior elegant and solemn collects works of art that bear witness to the importance of the place for the local catholic community.
On the right side of the right aisle is a monumental wooden display case with two compartments containing the statue of the dead Christ, solemnly carried in procession during the Holy Week.
In the upper compartment a large wooden cross carries affixed symbols and instruments of the Passion of Christ.
An elegant system of decorative plaster work, frames, figures of cherubs, medallions, create life to the surface of the walls and articulates the architectural space.
The right altar is surmounted by a canvas painting of the Madonna and Child with Saints Dominic and Catherine of Siena; on the side walls, one on each side, two angels support two cameos with the representation of a bust of Christ, left, and of the Madonna on the right.
At the end of the right aisle, a small alcove bears a canvas with the image of St. Anthony the Abbot, on the right the door to the sacristy with the inscription above: O VOS OMNES/VIDETE ED ADMIRAMINI/QUANTA IN HOC TEMPLO/FECERUNT ROSARIANTES PRO MATRE NOSTRA/COM. PERTICONE PROC./ANNO D.NI MDCCLXXII (O you all see and admire the great things as did the devotees of the Rosary in this temple for our mother being prior to Dominico Perticone in the year 1772)
The high altar, housed in the center of an elegant marble structure, the statue of the Madonna and Child, known as the Madonna of the Snow, dating back to the early construction of the building.
Continuing with the tour of the building, the alcove on the left aisle houses the large canvas painted by Oreste Recchione and depicting St. Andrew the Apostle, on his left, beyond a niche is a scroll with the inscription IAM RELINQUO VOS/FRATRES MEI/QUI IN ADIUTORIUM HUIUS TEMPLI /FUISTIS FIDELES/NUNC OBSECRO UT ISTUD/COMPLEATIS / DE COETERO IN DOMINO/GAUDETE/ARCh. D.DOM. ISACCO (Already I entrusted you or my brothers, to come to my aid in the construction of this temple, and now I beg you to complete the rest. Rejoice in the Lord.
The altar in the left aisle has a large canvas of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, in the presence of Joseph and Zechariah; in the two medallions on the sides of the altar are depicted, respectively, St. Michael the Archangel, on the left St. Raphael the Archangel and Tobias on the right.
On the opposite wall above the entrance the old organ built between 1779 and 1787 by Antonio D'Onofrio first, and later the Fedri of Atri workshops - stands within the precious wooden frame carved by master Ferdinando Mosca of Pescocostanzo.
