Mother Church of Santa Maria dell'Assunta
To trace the history of the Mother Church of Grumo is to immerse oneself in the past and observe how the town developed around its sacred centre. Dedicated to the Beata Vergine Maria Assunta in Cielo (Assumption of Mary), the church is a clear example of the Romanic style in Puglia, with its severe and compact bell tower. Its very stones seem to preserve centuries of secrets, prayers, festivals and processions. The origins of the church date back to the 13th century. Over time the ancient building did not withstand the passing of the years and the growing population of the town. In the 16th century it was decided that the church should be demolished, with the exception of the bell tower, and that a new church should be built in the Renaissance style of the times. An unknown architect designed a Greek cross plan with balanced transepts and a dome which provides light and space, emphasizing the simplicity and elegance of the square stones. Inside the church are the many testaments to devoted families.
The Scippa family chapel was built in the 1700s on the west side, highlighting the bond between local power and faith, and it is dedicated to the cult of St. Dominic with an inscription recalling the saint’s work. In 1816, the church was extended under the guidance of the architect Giuseppe Gimma di Bari and an inscription on the entrance commemorates his work. The continuing transformation culminated in 1950 when a further extension was carried out. It was necessary to demolish the “Porta Nuova”, the last historical gate of the town, and to move the main altar and the chorus to create a new entrance, characterized by a façade in a “false” Romanic style where visitors enter the church today. The Mother Church is the beating heart of Grumo, a thread which ties the past to the present, stone after stone. Every corner of the church speaks of faith and community and to walk within its walls is to breathe centuries of devotion, art and shared memories.