Collegiata di Santa Maria Maddalena Penitente

The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maddalena Penitente rises on a fortified spur at the eastern edge of Atrani. Its majolica dome, rococo façade and works of art reflect the church's long history as the town's principal religious landmark.

Why it matters

According to Atrani's municipal account, the church was built in thanksgiving after the townspeople attributed their deliverance from a punitive attack to the intercession of Santa Maria Maddalena. It remains closely connected with the town's identity and its annual feast on 22 July.

What to notice

The dome, tiled in majolica, crowns a tall drum above the transept. The façade was remodelled in Baroque and rococo forms, and the nearby bell tower is built in grey tuff, square below and octagonal at the belfry. Inside, three naves lead to side chapels. A sixteenth-century Incredulity of Saint Thomas has been attributed variously to Andrea Sabatini, Marco Pino and Giovan Bernardo De Lama. Other notable works include Giovan Angelo D'Amato's 1576 polyptych, the Madonna Pastorella statue of 1789 and a 1611 organ gallery painted with scenes from the Magdalene's life.

Context and history

The church was erected in 1274 on the remains of a medieval fortification. Later interventions included repairs in 1570 and 1669 and an enlargement in 1753. In 1852, architect Lorenzo Casalbore modernised the building, shaping much of the three-aisled interior seen today. The feast of Santa Maria Maddalena carries an eighteenth-century statue through Atrani's lanes and includes a traditional blessing of the sea.