Mother Church of San Nicola di Myra, Garaguso

History

The church was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1694, which destroyed the old settlement further down the hill, together with the new town commissioned by the Revertera family of Salandra. Originally it was the family chapel of the palazzo, later enlarged until it became the main church.

What to see

• The high altar painting of the Immaculate Conception, painted in 1761 by the Capuchin Fra Deodato da Tolve.
• The chapel of the Pietà, with a fresco from 1581.
• The chapel of San Gaudenzio, with the 18th-century wooden statue of the patron saint.
• The 15th-century frescoes on the arch leading to the sacristy, and the Madonna della Puglia, a 15th-century terracotta sculpture.

Useful information

• It is a church open for worship: you can visit it quietly, outside of services.
• On 14 August San Gaudenzio is celebrated with a procession and a small fair of local products. The saint’s relics arrived in the village in 1702 and 1794.