Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta

The Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta is a twentieth-century church in Montecatini Terme. Reinforced concrete, travertine cladding and a centralised plan distinguish it from the resort's older architecture.

Why it matters

The building replaced a nineteenth-century parish church as Montecatini developed into a larger modern community. Its scale and design add a religious dimension to the town's postwar architectural history.

What to notice

An octagonal plan organises the interior, with side chapels and a dome above the presbytery. Travertine surfaces give the building a strong material character, accompanied by a slender bell tower. Giorgio Scalco's stained glass and Sauro Cavallini's crucifix contribute to the artistic programme.

Context and history

The earlier church was designed by Luigi de Cambray Digny in 1833. Its modern replacement was the work of Raffaello Fagnoni, Pierluigi Spadolini, Mario Negri and Alfonso Stocchetti. The project belongs to the mid-twentieth century, while its elevation to minor basilica by John Paul II in 1988 marked a later stage in its institutional history.