Santa Maria della Neve Parish Church

In the heart of the Renaissance village of Gualtieri stands the majestic Collegiate Church of Santa Maria della Neve, a symbol of devotion and artistic splendour.
The present building, although renovated over time, originates from the design commissioned by Marquis Ippolito Bentivoglio in the early 17th century, executed by the same architects who built Palazzo Bentivoglio: the architect Giovan Battista Aleotti and the engineer Vacca.

The papal bull issued by Pope Paul V in 1608 sanctioned its dedication to the Blessed Virgin of the Snow.
During the 18th century, the church underwent a radical transformation: between 1773 and 1783, based on a design by the Gualtieri-born architect Giovan Battista Fattori, the layout was changed from a three-nave plan to a single nave with six side chapels, and the coffered ceiling was replaced with a barrel vault.

Inside, the large wooden choir, originally from Guastalla Cathedral (1654), stands out, adorned with walnut statues depicting the Apostles and Prophets.
Among the most significant works of art are the altarpiece of the Madonna della Neve and the Chapel of St Andrew, known as the ‘Community Chapel’, featuring a painting by Carlo Zatti (1844) depicting the patron saint and the co-patrons of the town.
The Chapel of the Annunciation, on the upper floor, houses the splendid canvas by the Ferrara-born artist Carlo Bononi (1569–1632), a masterpiece of 17th-century Emilian art.

The 19th-century bell tower, designed by the engineer Frizzi, and the 17th-century crypt, which houses ancient relics and mementoes, complete the harmony of the ensemble.