Santa Maria in Ronzano is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Romanic churches in the Abruzzi.It was erected in 1170 in the Mavone Valley;also called Sicilian Valley.Owing to a ruinous fire in 1183;the side where the Benedictine monks' residence used to be was completely destroyed and has never been rebuilt anymore.The church;restored in the mid twentieth century;has a brick façade with pilasters and blind arches in local white stone.It was meant to be provided with a frontal arcade;which has never been built;while a big circular window faces the Gran Sasso.The interior;which round arches divided in a nave and two aisles with apses at the top;keeps the mark of the fire that calcined the stones of the cross-shaped pillars.The frescoes of the central apse date back to 1181:they portray Christ in blessing;inserted in an almond-shaped border supported by angels;and below a procession of saints and scenes of Jesus's life