Chiesa dei SS. Pietro e Paolo di Mercogliano

The Church of Santi Pietro e Paolo (Saints Peter and Paul) of Mercogliano is situated in the medieval village of Capocastello.

As one of the main places of worship in Capocastello, the Church was built in the 13th century, inside the old walls that once surrounded the historic centre of the village. It was built on a site on which a temple dedicated to Castor and Pollux once stood, indicating that pagan worship was replaced by Christianity which survived through to the present day. The Church has been damaged by several natural disasters, earthquakes and fires and the various restoration works have altered its original structure and aspect.

Today, the Church has a tall bell tower, once used as a lookout station, with Gothic mullioned windows and an octagonal cell with space for the old bells. Inside the Church is a fresco of the Madonna and Child that was found behind one of the alcoves housing the statue of Saint Lucy. There is also a high altar with a reliquary, which for centuries has contained relics of the town’s three patron saints, Modestinus, Florentine and Flavian, whose bodies were discovered in the church named after them.

The remarkable faith and generosity of the local community led to the restoration of part of the gallery of paintings, thanks to which many valuable artworks have been recovered and have enhanced the artistic and sacred legacy of this church.