The Church of San Nicola di Bari, in the historic center of Guglionesi (Molise), is one of the oldest and most intriguing churches in southern Italy. Rebuilt in the 13th century after being destroyed by the 1117 earthquake, it retains its Romanesque structure enriched with later Gothic and Baroque elements. Its stone façade features blind arches, vegetal capitals, and a portal crowned by a bull relief, reflecting a stylistic transition between Romanesque and Gothic. Inside, three naves are divided by pointed arches, and the presbytery is elevated and accessible via a long staircase, beneath which lies a rediscovered Romanesque crypt from the 12th century. This crypt, with cross-vaulted ceilings and sculpted capitals, reveals the ancient layers of the site. Recent studies suggest the church was intentionally aligned with the tombs of Saint Nicholas in Myra (Turkey) and Bari, functioning as a sacred solar clock.
- Address
Corso Conte di Torino, 51-59, Guglionesi, Italy - Web
None - Visiting Hours
Unknown - What to see
Crypt, staircase
