The church of Santa Maria is located within the city wall of Castro dei Volsci where once the convent of the Minor Franciscan Brothers stood.
Probably it dates from between 1156 and 1160, but over the centuries has had many renovations.
Inside there are paintings dating back to the Romanesque period and are part of the original church.
Notable are a marble wall tabernacle and two holy water fonts in carved stone glaze-shaped like lilies, and supported by similar columns.
The eighteenth-century organ is on the choir stand and comes from the church of Santa Salome in Veroli.
There are also oil paintings of St George and a representation of the Virgin on metal plate.
A tradition of the faith has it that one of the ancient bells of Santa Maria was rung by the sacristan every time a storm was forecast.
Legend has it that, as if by magic, at the sound of the bell the threatening clouds, especially those with hail would thin and stop at the edge of the Castro area.
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