Corpus Christi Church
The church of Corpus Domini was built starting from 1555 to be completed and consecrated in 1571: it was built with the aim of transferring the bishopric from Lettere to Gragnano, a move which however never took place. Between 1730 and 1750 a canvas of over four hundred square meters was placed on the ceiling, the work of Francesco Russo; it underwent restoration work during the 19th century and following the 1980 earthquake.
Internally the church has a Latin cross shape, with a single nave. Among the works present inside, the canvas on the ceiling by Francesco Maria Russo depicting the Exaltation of the Sacrament stands out and still on the main altar the Last Supper by Giacinto Diano from 1770; and again both paintings by Agostino Beltrano, Eduardo Dalbono and Edoardo Tofano and statues.
Church of Santa Maria dell’Assunta in Castello
The exact period of construction of the church of Santa Maria dell’Assunta in the village of Castello in Gragnano is not known: some historians date it to the 5th or 6th century, others to the 10th; it grew in importance around the 16th century, when it underwent restoration and expansion works, so much so that Cardinal D’Aragona asked for its elevation to a bishopric, a request that later remained unheard of. On July 26, 1927 it was declared a national monument.
Access to the church is via a Vesuvian stone staircase: internally it is divided into three naves by eight columns, all different from each other including the capitals. On the high altar is a 16th-century Neapolitan school triptych depicting the Madonna with Saints Peter and Paul. Among the other works there is a statue of Our Lady of Sorrows from the 18th century and one of Sant’Antonio from the 17th century. The square bell tower in Romanesque and Moorish style is characteristic.
