Nocera Superiore Proposes Early Christian Baptistery of Santa Maria

Nocera Superiore launches candidature for the Baptistery on UNESCO Tentative List

The Municipality of Nocera Superiore has started the institutional procedure to nominate the Early Christian Baptistery of Santa Maria Maggiore for inclusion on UNESCO's Tentative List. This marks the first essential step towards a possible World Heritage nomination.

The initiative seeks to protect and enhance one of the most emblematic monuments of the Agro Nocerino Sarnese area and to include it within national and international heritage promotion channels.

Parties involved and next steps

• Nocera Superiore municipal administration
• Parish of Santa Maria Maggiore (property owner)
• Superintendency for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of Salerno and Avellino
• Campania Region
• Ministry of Culture

The process will include research, compilation of detailed documentation and technical coordination among the stakeholders. Such procedures are typically lengthy but essential to demonstrate the site's outstanding universal value and to set up appropriate conservation and sustainable access measures.

Why the candidature matters

Expected outcomes:

• Improved protection and conservation of the monument
• Increased international visibility and qualified cultural tourism
• New opportunities for cultural and educational initiatives in the area

Local officials emphasize that the aim is not only formal recognition but also the creation of a shared strategy for long-term enhancement involving the local community, institutions and cultural operators.

Announcement date: 16 April 2026.