The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maddalena is the main religious building in Morano Calabro and one of the most significant examples of sacred architecture in the region. Its origins date back to 1097, when the building was a small suburban chapel situated outside the medieval city walls. As the centuries passed and the population grew, the structure was enlarged in the second half of the 16th century at the behest of the provost, Don Giuseppe La Pilosella, taking on a Latin cross plan with three naves.

Between the 17th and 18th centuries, the church underwent numerous alterations that profoundly transformed its appearance. On 3 February 1737, it was elevated to the rank of collegiate church by a papal bull issued by Clement XII, whilst major renovation works had already begun in 1732, leading to the creation of the rich late Baroque decorations, entrusted to Donato Sarnicola. These works gave the interior a solemn and spectacular character, making the church one of the finest examples of Calabrian Baroque.

On the exterior, the neoclassical façade, completed in the 1840s, is distinguished by its formal balance and references to classical architecture. Divided into two levels by a cornice featuring triglyphs and metopes, the lower section features six Doric pilasters, whilst the upper level is marked by Ionic pilasters decorated with garlands. The Spinelli di Scalea family coat of arms stands out on the pediment, a sign of the link between the church and the great families of the area. Completing the ensemble are the bell tower, built in 1817, and the dome, completed in 1794 and clad in 1862 with yellow and green Campanian-style majolica tiles, which lend vibrancy to the village’s skyline.

The interior retains a Latin cross plan, with side aisles punctuated by chapels surmounted by small domes and a central nave covered by a barrel vault illuminated by a series of windows. The atmosphere is enhanced by Baroque decorations and elements of great artistic and devotional value. In the sacristy there is a rare locally made coffered ceiling dating from the late 16th century, together with a marble reliquary for sacred oils from the same period. Numerous relics are also preserved here, including a stone from the Holy Sepulchre and a footprint attributed to the sandal of Francis of Paola, linked to the tradition of his blessing of Calabria before his journey to France.

Among the most important works is the famous polyptych created in 1477 by Bartolomeo Vivarini, now housed in the Chapel of San Silvestro. It is one of the artist’s most significant works in Calabria, influenced by the painting of Giovanni Bellini and, in certain details, by Antonello da Messina. The work represents one of Vivarini’s masterpieces from his mature period and further enriches the artistic heritage of the collegiate church.

The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maddalena is today the spiritual heart of Morano Calabro, a place where history, art and devotion intertwine, recounting over nine centuries of the village’s religious and cultural life.