The church of Santa Maria is the oldest of Cottanello and was built over a previous Roman temple.
In fact, all the temples became a church after the beginning given by the emperor Theodosius.
Initially it was larger and housed an archpriest and 8 canons as is clear from the story of a visit of Peter Ispano, future Pope John XXI.
Its importance is given by a miraculous event that occurred in 1527 when Cottanello was besieged by the Landsknechts coming from the Sacco (pillage) of Rome.
The troops had chosen this church as their headquarters and threatened the country when a Madonna with Child appeared in the sky that frightened them and put them on the run.
After this episode was founded the Venerable Company of Santa Maria dei Casali, associated with the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, to maintain the memory of that event.
The church was rebuilt smaller and in 1610 the archpriest and the imperial insignia were transferred to the new and great church of Sant'Andrea.
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