Ripabottoni. Parish Church of Santa Maria Assunta

Mountains in the central part of Italy have become a shelter for dozens of settlements. In front of us is one of these mountain villages in the province of Campobasso, Ripabottoni. We are looking at the town hall and the hilly lands of Molise from the high tower of the church of Santa Maria Assunta. It was built in 1744, in an atypical Baroque style.

When the church needed reconstruction, it became clear that it was easier to rebuild the old and rather dilapidated church than to reconstruct it. Now, the church is a national monument. It consists of three naves, and the interiors of the church are decorated with works of the local creator, Paolo Gamba.

Tourists get to Ripabotoni while travelling from the Adriatic Sea to the Tyrrhenian one (or vice versa). For example, if you are in Naples and are going to the popular resort of Pescara, be sure to visit the province of Campobasso and its mountain villages.

Please note that some buildings look too modern for a medieval settlement. The fact is that Ripabotoni was seriously damaged during the 2002 earthquake, so many buildings had to be rebuilt.