The Mother Church of Santa Croce stands in the heart of the historic centre of Celenza Valfortore, in Piazza Umberto I, on the ruins of the ancient church of Santa Croce or San Giovanni in Piazza. Its construction was begun in 1569 by Baron Carlo Gambacorta di Giampaolo, feudal lord of the lands of Celenza and first marquis of this territory by the grace of Philip II, and it was subsequently consecrated in 1573. Among the works of art housed within, visitors can admire several paintings, such as the Assumption by B. Brunetti from 1656 and St George by Siciliani, as well as wooden sculptures such as St Joseph with the Child by G. Colombo from 1702 and St John the Baptist and the Immaculate Conception from the Neapolitan School. Of particular note are also the balustrade and the 16th-century baptismal font, both made of local bronzina stone.