Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta

The present Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Arco was begun in 1613, replacing a parish church recorded at the site in 1144. Its monochrome friezes, richly furnished altars and the former burial place of Francesco II of Bourbon reflect the church’s long religious and civic history.

Why it matters

The medieval pieve served a wide territory, and its collegiate chapter made Arco an important religious centre. The community decided to rebuild in 1613; construction was interrupted by the plague of 1630, and the church was consecrated in 1671. The church contains the tombs of the counts of Arco. It also received the remains of Francesco II, the last king of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, after his death in exile at Arco in 1894; his burial here was temporary.

What to notice

The façade combines Doric and Ionic orders, with monochrome friezes depicting musical instruments, scores and sacred objects. Above the portal is a sculptural group of the Assunta; walnut doors carved in 1952 show scenes from the Madonna’s life. Inside, a frieze of lauds to the Madonna runs beneath the vault. The altars include a Madonna del Rosario by Bartolomeo Pellone, completed in 1670, and a Maddalena altar by the Benedetti brothers of Castione. The Santi Arcangeli altarpiece, attributed to Felice Brusasorci, depicts Saint Michael defeating Lucifer. The bell tower rises beside the church, while a sundial on the south side bears an Ovid quotation about the passage of time.

Context and history

The pieve is first recorded in 1144, with chapels dedicated to San Michele and Sant’Antonio. A pastoral visitation in 1537 judged the older church insufficient, and the 1613 rebuilding was designed by Giovanni Maria Filippo da Dasindo. The first Mass in the new building was celebrated in 1628; following the interruption caused by the 1630 plague, it was consecrated on 15 May 1671. An earlier high altar with a canopy was made by Domenico Rossi, known as il Manentino of Mori; it was replaced in the eighteenth century. Restoration work on the tuff vault was completed in 1991.