The small medieval church of Santa Maria is located right on the highest point of Montefiascone, where the fortress is located, and for this it was called Santa Maria in Castello.
It was built in the thirteenth century by Pope Innocent III, the only pope from Gavignano who had to counter both the Magna Charta and the growing popularity of Saint Francis and the communities of pauperist friars.
The Pope's interest was to affirm the presence of the pontificate in this area north of Rome.
The name Santa Maria della Neve dates back to 1583 when a papal emissary on an apostolic visit found it completely covered in snow.
Today the building has only one nave with a simple entrance door and a semi-circular window on the local stone facade.
The interior is in simple plaster and on one side there is a 14th century fresco representing a Madonna with child on a throne in stone between Saint Francis and Sant'Antonio Abate on one side.
On the other side, San Flaviano (patron saint of Montefiascone) and Saint Augustine.
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