Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio

The Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio is closely associated with L'Aquila's Perdonanza Celestiniana. Pietro da Morrone began building it in 1288; here he was crowned Pope Celestine V on 29 August 1294. Its pink-and-white facade survived the 2009 earthquake, while the transept and apse collapsed.

Why it matters

Weeks after his coronation, Celestine V issued the Bolla del Perdono, granting an indulgence to those who entered the basilica repentant and confessed. The annual Perdonanza continues to centre on Collemaggio, where the Holy Door is opened in late August. In 2019, the celebration was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

What to notice

The facade is patterned in bands of pink and white stone from Genzano di Sassa and centred on a large rose window flanked by two smaller ones. Inside, the floor carries a geometric white-and-pink design; the church also preserves fourteenth- and fifteenth-century frescoes. A marble tempietto beside the high altar contains Celestine's remains. The Holy Door is set in the long side of the basilica; its lunette is attributed to Antonio Martini da Atri.

Context and history

The basilica was built on a hill outside L'Aquila's walls, near the route of the Tratturo Magno. After the 2009 earthquake, the facade remained standing while the transept and apse collapsed. Restoration began in 2015, with funding that included a contribution from ENI, and the basilica was reopened in 2017. During the restoration, removal of the wooden choir revealed a painting by Saturnino Gatti behind the altar. Pope Francis opened the Holy Door in 2022.