Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta

The parish church of Santa Maria di Fabbrica Curone is entirely constructed of river stone or local stone and is composed of elements of various sizes. The building has a longitudinal plan, without a transept, and features a square apse. The central nave has a gabled roof, while the two side naves have a simple pitch. The façade is characterized by a porch, also made of stone, built around 1881. Above the entrance portal is a precious lunette, decorated in low relief, one of the few decorative elements of the original parish church structure. According to the symbolist interpretation, it depicts a lion, symbol of Jesus Christ (Leo de tribu Juda), triumphantly carrying the symbol of the Cross, with which he defeats the devil (serpent) and grants immortality to souls (peacock). Another, more conventional interpretation suggests that it simply represents the symbols of the Evangelists Mark (the lion) and John (the eagle). On the counterfaçade, above the main door, traces of the original Romanesque mullioned window are still visible, likely the only decoration on the original façade, later closed to allow for three windows to provide greater light to the church. Also on the façade, a row of simple arches is visible under the roofing, as well as along the sides of the church, interspersed with pilasters above the side aisles. The bell tower was built in 1606, as evidenced by an inscription on one of the stones in the base. Its current appearance is the result of subsequent additions and modifications. The interior of the parish church has three naves. The vaulted ceiling was built in the 17th century, with the subsequent covering of the original wooden trusses and the single-lancet windows that open onto the central nave. The pillars, four in each nave, consist of a simple square body, supported by two ornamental semi-columns. The interior flooring, made of stone slabs, is still the original. Inside the Pieve di Fabbrica, a valuable statue of the Assumption, dating back to 1859, is preserved. It was created by Luigi Montecucco, a sculptor from Gavi Ligure whose works can be found in numerous parishes in the Diocese of Tortona. Upon entering, on the right is the Altar of the Rosary, belonging to the Confraternity of the same name. The altarpiece here is a valuable 17th-century oil painting depicting the archpriest A. Dall'Occhio, provost of Fabbrica from 1624 to 1668, who commissioned the work, together with Saint Dominic at the feet of the Virgin.