Few places in the South of Italy hold precious works of art from the Renaissance period as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Irsina. This majestic church, destroyed and rebuilt many times, gives it's current appearance to a reconstruction in the 18th century, whilst the bell tower has been preserved from the Roman (lower part) and Gothic (upper part) periods.
The architecture is certainly unusual; the rear of the church has the appearance of a fortress and is seamlessly built into the ancient walls surrounding the town. The evocative crypt, in the shape of the Greek cross, remains from the original construction. Internally, the church is a treasure trove for art lovers; Venetian works from the precious collection of De Mabilia have been preserved, including the splendid statue of Mantegna.

continue..