Immersed in the quiet of the Abruzzo countryside, the Church of Santa Maria a Vico in Sant’Omero is an architectural masterpiece that preserves intact a millennial history. Built on the remains of a pagan temple dedicated to Hercules, this 10th-century Romanesque church is considered the only monument in Abruzzo previous the year 1000 that has come down to us almost complete. It is no coincidence that it has been on the list of Italian National Monuments since 1902. A real jewel for lovers of history, art and spirituality.

The church has an elongated rectangular plan, divided into three naves. Its distinctive element is its simplicity: the naves are separated by six pillars on each side, without bases and surmounted by square stone capitals. The lacking interior lighting from five small windows is balanced by the large rose window on the main façade. The bell tower, added in the 14th century, and the façade, restored in the same period, complete the exterior.

The interior of the church, once richly painted, still retains fragments of remarkable frescoes. These include an image of the Madonna Enthroned with Child, an Annunciation and a second Madonna Enthroned, all with clear references to Giotto’s style.

Another curiosity that you should know to appreciate this place of worship even more is that in 1884 a marble slab was found here, which is now kept inside the liturgical hall, engraved with the Decree of the Hercules Cultists and the name of the Vicano settlement. The gravestone had been used as a burial cover. From the interpretation of the chiselled text, it can be assumed that it was connected to another stone that included the list of the Vicus’ Cultors of Hercules. The tombstone shows, in the spaces on the four sides, the instruments that the worshippers used to execute sacrifices, such as the patera, the simpulo, the cultro (knife used for sacrifices) and the crater. In the centre of the text, Hercules’ club is represented.

Particularly interesting is the portal, where you can see blocks of stone carved ‘in negative’, depicting the lamb with the cross (Agnus Dei), the winged lion of Saint Mark, the winged ox of Saint Luke and the eagle of Saint John, along with geometric and floral motifs.