The Church of Santa Maria di Cartignano is located near Bussi sul Tirino in the province of Pescara, Italy. Originally a Benedictine monastery—first dependent on Montecassino and later on San Liberatore a Majella—it lost its original function over the centuries due to repeated flood damage. Declared a national monument in 1902, intermittent restoration works began in the late 19th century. After the last major restoration in 1968, the decision was made to preserve the building as a ruin, leaving it without its central roof; it has since been secured and made accessible, its evocative facade and remaining apse clearly visible along the SS153. The church’s history dates back to the early 11th century when it existed as a Benedictine cell, with numerous imperial documents attesting to its dependencies and subsequent expansion. Monastic activity ceased by the end of the 14th century, and the building was abandoned in the 1500s and 1600s before being revived in the 18th century—first under the Celestine monks and later reclaimed by the Bourbons. In the 20th century, efforts to salvage the structure culminated in a partial reconstruction via anastylosis in 1968, though some restoration choices, such as the alteration of the bell tower’s sail, deviated from the original design.
- Address
Ss. 17-bis, Bussi sul Tirino, Italy - Web
None - Visiting Hours
Always open - What to see
Ruins of medieval church
