Chiesa della Madonna del Suffragio (Madonna dei Pastori)

The Church of the Madonna del Suffragio, also known as Madonna dei Pastori, is a fifteenth-century church in Castel del Monte. Its richly carved and gilded altar and pastoral imagery reflect the confraternity and sheep-owning community associated with the building.

Why it matters

From 1685 the church served as the seat of the Compagnia delle Anime del Suffragio, whose members included some of the town's wealthiest sheep owners. Its alternate name, Madonna dei Pastori, connects the church to the pastoral economy and transhumance that shaped life between the Gran Sasso and the Tavoliere.

What to notice

The church has a broad single nave and a deep sacristy, with an oratory above. Baroque stucco frames the interior, while the main altar is a carved and gilded wooden structure with figures of Faith and Hope and gilded angels. A statue of the Virgin wears the traditional costume of Castel del Monte. The side altar of San Giovanni Battista holds a painting dated about 1585 by Bernardino di Lorenzo di Monaldo; a gilded organ is dated 1508.

Context and history

Founded in the first half of the fifteenth century, the church passed to the confraternity in 1685. The confraternity's calendar reflected the seasonal movement of shepherds: a July procession marked their return, while a September ceremony accompanied their departure for the Puglian plains. The bell tower was built in 1834, and its bells followed in 1837.