Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Vasto

Dating from the 11th century, the church was damaged by the Turks in 1566 and by a fire in 1645. Rebuilt starting from the 1780s in broad and powerful forms entirely in brick, it still retains on the facade the powerful bell tower dating back to the 14th century, as evidenced by the hanging arches. The bright and airy interior with a single nave covered by vaults and a dome houses the relic of the Holy Thorn, a 15th-century monstrance by Nicola da Guardiagrele, and at the altars precious paintings among which stand out the Titian-style Madonna and Child on the throne and the Marriage of Saint Catherine attributed to Paolo Veronese.