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St. Maria in Arce (La Sagra) in Carpi, Emilia Romagna

According to the legend, in the 8th century the parish church of Sta. Maria was founded by the Longobard king Astolfo from the ruins of a Roman building, still clear in the crypt of the church .
Between the 11th and 12th centuries thanks to Matilde of Canossa's initiative, after a fire, it was
rebuilt with nave and two aisles following the Romanesque style of the Cathedral of Modena. Still visible is the architectural pattern of the arches supported by blind small arches (on the outer walls and apses), typical of the Romanesque style of the Po Valley.
In 1515, after decades of grandeur and splendeur, within the town planning restoratin projects, Alberto Pio III decided to build the collegiate church in the new centre thus reducing the " Sagra " to the present-day dimensions, preserving only the church presbytery functioning as oratory. The current facade of the
" Sagra " was rebuilt by project of Baldassarre Peruzzi following the severe Romanesque style.
Particularly interesting is the base relief with the Crucifixion in the lunette of the portal that dates back to the 11th century. Despite the readaptations, the basilica structure with nave and two aisles can still be seen inside.
Specifically remarkable are also the remains of the nave frescoes which portray the Gospel episodes 12th C and the 15th C frescoes of St. Martino and St. Caterina of Alessandria chapels from the Emilian school.
In the right aisle rest the sarcophagus of Manfredo Pio (1351), while leant against the facade wall, there is the Ambo, formed by twelfth-century slabs of marble in high relief, being part of the original presbyteral enclosure of the parish church.

Historical notes
The legendary tradition has it that the construction of the church dates from the mid-8th century (752) on the intiative of the Longobard king Astolfo.
Documentary news of the 9th century (879) reveal the existence of a building needing restoration by that time.
In the 10th century it was given the parish priest title and in the 12th century, not longer, due to papal priviligeves it reached the full autonomy from the bishop of Reggio, getting the ecclesiastical jurisdiction over a limited territory.
No trace of the architectural structure concerning the original church has remained.
One may assume that the ninth-century documented building was provided with crypt as it was confirmed by the late excavations.
Moreover it has been discovered on the spot the presence of building foundations belonging to a late Roman "domus rustica" made up of tessellated pavement in opus spicatum, being an extraordinary evidence of the history continuity of the ancient built-up area in Carpi.

The present building seems the outcome of a reconstruction following the Romanesque models with basilican plan which thanks to Matilde of Canossa's drive occurred around the second decade of the 12th century.

In July 15th, 1184 when the Pope Lucio III solemnly consecrated the church, the memory of this event was so deeply kept up by the common people that later it was named "Sagra", i.e. sacred church .
Once become collegiate church, embellished with chapels, place appointed to public ceremonies and burial for some members of the Pio family from 1327, the parish church of Sta Maria began to be inadequate to the cult needs of the population of the 16th century.

Between the 15th and 16th centuries the town development of the city and the building of several churches, among which the new collegiate church of Assunta on the quare of Borgogioioso, made Alberto Pio III to decide to pull the very old holy building down.
Only one third of it remained which corresponds to the apsidal area, then the new facade was erected. Afterwards decadence and carelessness followed.
Then, during the Baroque period, the transformations undergone for cult reasons of the"Sacchi Bianchi" brotherhood promoted fittings and changements perceivable especially inside.
The architectural recovery took place beginning from 1872 by project of the eng. Achille Sammarini, whose works went on through the stylistic restoration till the early 20th century.

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