Church of Santa Maria di Gesù in Pietraperzia
The Church of Santa Maria di Gesù in Pietraperzia is an important sacred building in the village and stands in front of its main square.
The date of construction of the church is not known but it is certain that it existed before 1635 and that it was dedicated to Santa Maria dell'Itria. In fact, in that year the Friars Minor arrived and enlarged the sacred building and named it Santa Maria del Gesù, probably because it was annexed to the Franciscan convent of Santa Maria del Gesù built in 1636 thanks to a bequest from the Santigliano sisters.
The façade hut is closed by pilasters surmounted by a slightly overhanging gable. A single portal opens surmounted by a marble plaque and a rectangular opening.
The interior, with a single nave, houses various valuable works: the Vision of Saint Francis canvas by Giuseppe Vaccaro from the second half of the nineteenth century; the canvas depicting Saint Anthony from the 19th century; the wooden crucifix dating back to the 18th century.On Easter Sunday the ancient and evocative celebration of l'Ancuntru, i.e. the meeting, takes place: at midday, in the center of the Square main town of the town, the Simulacrums of the Madonna and the Risen Christ meet after that hesitation which leads the two characters to go towards each other and step back three times.
The church is home to the brotherhood of the Precious Blood and theater of the ancient and evocative celebration of the Ancuntru which takes place on the occasion of the Easter in Pietraperzia.
