Below the castle and in amongst the buildings right on the edge of Rione di Casale you can not miss an eye-catching gabled façade and bell tower. These are the noticeable features of 16th century church, Chiesa Matrice. A church that for centuries has had a special place in the religious traditions and history of Ginosa.
Do not let the seemingly out of the way location of Chiesa Matrice lead you to think this is an insignificant church. Everything about this sacred space is intimately linked to the changing historical fortunes and allegiances of Ginosa. Construction of the church began towards the end of the 15th century to appease French soldiers. At the time, Ginosa was caught up in the Italian Wars – a series of conflicts that involved most of the major states of western Europe fight for territory and power.
Giambattista Doria not only enlisted French architects to build the church, he also had it dedicated to a prominent French Saint, Martin of Tours. Take a closer look at the fading painting on the front façade beneath the rose window. It is thought to represent the legend of Martin’s Cloak. Martin is depicted on horseback cutting his cloak in two, one half of which he gave to the poor, nude beggar he is said to have encountered at the gates of Amiens.
Saint Martin’s and the French soldiers’ hold over the church here was not to last long. In one of the five chapels, in an ornate wooden display case, is an 18th century statue of Mary holding Jesus and a rosary. In 1756 the town chose to re-dedicate the church to Mary, Madonna del Rosario.
Since its construction in the early 16th century, the church has witnessed a number of changes. In the 17th century, like many churches in Italy it was restored in a Baroque style. All that remains of this period are the painted walls and ceiling at the back of the right-hand aisle. The rest of aisle, the left-hand aisle, the nave and apse is simply white. It does make for a very bright interior.
Chiesa Matrice was in fact built on top of an earlier church. The edge of the apse of that earlier church, built in about 1000 AD, can be seen through a glass panel in the floor of the apse.