Chiesa di Santa Maria di Costantinopoli

Beside Piazza San Rocco in Scanno, the Church of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli preserves a fresco of the enthroned Madonna and Child inscribed “De Ciollis, A.D. 1418.” The small church was restored by Giovanni and Marino Nardozza in 1708 and donated to the parish in 1960.

Why it matters

The fresco is regarded as one of Scanno's most important works of art. Its inscription fixes the date to 1418, while the name De Ciollis has prompted differing interpretations: it may identify the painter or the family that commissioned the work. The church's history also traces its passage from private family ownership to the parish of Santa Maria della Valle.

What to notice

The Madonna sits enthroned with the Child against a red ground patterned with golden flowers. The inscription runs along a band at the top. The church has a simple facade with a 1708 inscription recording work by Giovanni and Marino Nardozza.

Context and history

The church's dedication is attested before the fresco's 1418 date. The Nardozza family owned it for centuries. In 1612, a bishop's visitation ordered some of its frescoes, including a figure of Saint Carlo, to be repainted; those works are now lost. Giovanni and Marino Nardozza restored the building in 1708. In 1960 the family donated it to the parish of Santa Maria della Valle.