Concattedrale dell'Assunta e di San Pardo

The Co-cathedral of the Assumption and San Pardo is the principal church of Larino's historic centre and a seat of the Diocese of Termoli-Larino. Its Gothic stone façade, thirteen-ray rose window and works by Baroque painters make it one of Molise's most distinctive churches.

Why it matters

The co-cathedral preserves the religious and artistic history of Larino and the diocese. It is dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta and San Pardo, the city's patron saint, whose relics are kept here. The church's paintings include works associated with Francesco Solimena, Luca Giordano, Jean-Baptiste Jouvenet and Jusepe de Ribera.

What to notice

The Gothic façade is built of rough-hewn stone and has an ogival portal. Above it, the rose window has thirteen rays and rests on sculpted lions. The bell tower bears the date 1451. Inside, three aisles lead to an eighteenth-century marble altar, with paintings by Neapolitan and European artists and the relics of San Pardo.

Context and history

The church took shape in the thirteenth century in a Romanesque-Gothic style and was remodelled in later periods. It retains the co-cathedral title within the united Diocese of Termoli-Larino. The annual feast of San Pardo is closely associated with the church and the city's tradition of flower-decorated ox carts.