San Tommaso Apostolo is a Romanesque and

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...

-style,

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

church located in the town of

Ascoli Piceno Ascoli Piceno (; la, Asculum; dialetto ascolano: Ascule) is a town and ''comune'' in the Marche region of Italy, capital of the province of the same name. Its population is around 46,000 but the urban area of the city has more than 93,000. Geo ...

in the region of

Marche Marche ( , ) is one of the twenty regions of Italy. In English, the region is sometimes referred to as The Marches ( ). The region is located in the central area of the country, bordered by Emilia-Romagna and the republic of San Marino to the ...

, Italy.

History

Construction of the church was spurred circa 1064 by Bishop Bernardo II. The simple façade built with

travertine Travertine ( ) is a form of terrestrial limestone deposited around mineral springs, especially hot springs. It often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, cream-colored, and even rusty varieties. It is formed by a pro ...

blocks has three naves, with a tympanum with a rose window. To the right, rises a bell-tower (1283) with a square base. The church has a basilica layout with the naves and aisles separated by sturdy pilasters, and includes

spolia ''Spolia'' (Latin: 'spoils') is repurposed building stone for new construction or decorative sculpture reused in new monuments. It is the result of an ancient and widespread practice whereby stone that has been quarried, cut and used in a built ...

from the former

Roman amphitheater Roman amphitheatres are theatres – large, circular or oval open-air venues with raised seating – built by the ancient Romans. They were used for events such as gladiator combats, ''venationes'' (animal slayings) and executions. About 230 Ro ...

of the first century BC, which had been located in the piazza in front of the church. Many of the nave pilasters are frescoed. Frescoes depict a ''Madonna del Latte'' (14th century) by the Maestro di Offida and an ''Enthroned Madonna and Child'' (1298). A number of the lateral altars were erected in the 18th century using travertine marble. The main altar has a gilded wood tabernacle from the 16th century shaped like an octagonal ciborium. The church houses a marble sculptural group (17th-century) depicting a ''Madonna and Child with St Thomas the Apostle and St John the Evangelist'' sculpted by Lazzaro and

Giuseppe Giosafatti Giuseppe Giosafatti (1643–1733) was an Italian architect and sculptor, mainly active in the city of Ascoli Piceno. His father, Antonio, was born in Venice and active in the late 1580s. Giuseppe's father placed him as an apprentice to his cousin ...

.Tourism of Marche
description of the church.

References

Romanesque architecture in le Marche Gothic architecture in le Marche Roman Catholic churches in Ascoli Piceno 11th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Churches completed in 1064 {{Italy-RC-church-stub