Santa Maria Goretti Church

“Designing a church is a message of continuity with the spirit of art that has passed unperturbed through the centuries of humanity.” — Mario Cucinella

Designed by Mario Cucinella Architects the exterior of this elemental and sentinel-like building draws inspiration from natural forms as well as from the tradition of austere and beautiful apsidal Calabrian churches built by monks from the eastern reaches of the former Roman Empire escaping conquest and persecution. The result is an innovative church, dedicated to Saint Maria Goretti (1890-1902) – the Catholic Church’s youngest saint – that, although a new building, appears to stand outside time.

The church is entered through a tall incision made in one of its four white concrete apses, the entrance forming a tall external cross that, lit by night, is seen like a beacon, from afar. The numinous interior, lit diaphanously from above through folds of translucent fabric hung in the form of curvaceous drapes from the 16-metre-high ceiling, has been inspired by, on the one hand, a resolute focus on the eucharist and prayer and, on the other, by the geometries of Italy’s most compelling Baroque churches, among them Francesco Borromini’s San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane and Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza, both in Rome.

The commission for Santa Maria Goretti was won by Mario Cucinella Architects through a competition organised by the Episcopal Conference of Italy (CEI), the national assembly of bishops. Construction began in 2015 and has been completed this year.

Reached by a dedicated paved road, the church forms a small new urban complex, including a new parish centre also designed by Mario Cucinella Architects. This essentially orthogonal single storey, large concrete-framed building, offering wide views across the Pollino landscape, contains a parish meeting room, church classrooms and the priests’ house gathered around a central planted courtyard and under a living ‘green’ roof.

The north side of the parish centre features a scalloped roof line in dialogue with the four-leafed clover plan and form of the church. Clergy can enter the church from behind the altar through a sacristry concealed within its curved walls. Church bells are also concealed within the walls. The church’s congregation enters from the north where the white concrete walls are engraved with words relating to the life of Saint Maria Goretti. Inside, the relationship between art and architecture continues. Reflecting the fluid shapes of the walls, the artist Giuseppe Maraniello has created a lectern, tabernacle, baptismal font and figure of the Virgin Mary in stone, bronze and mosaic.

Furniture in wood and steel by Mario Cucinella Design is minimal and austere to highlight the architectural and sculptural elements of the church interior. In addition to the constant play of daylight afforded by the veils hanging from the ceiling, on one day in the year – 6th July, the Feast of Saint Maria Goretti – a beam of sunlight shines directly on the crucifix set on the wall behind the altar. Here, nature, art, architecture and religious faith and symbolism work in spiritual harmony.

The design and construction of the church is such that its energy use and need for maintenance is minimal. Moreover, the green roofs and the planted internal courtyards, as well as the organic garden in front of the Rectory for 0-km cultivation contribute to the sustainability of the project and serve the local community.