The Church of San Salvatore is the mother church of Torino di Sangro and is located in the upper part of the town, overlooking the central Piazza Donato Iezzi. Its existence has been documented since the 14th century, when it was mentioned as a possession of the Abbey of Santo Stefano in Rivo Maris and the Abbey of Casauria—a historical connection that still echoes today in the parish’s official name: “Santissimo Salvatore e Santo Stefano in Rivo Maris.”
The current brick structure dates back to the late 16th century. The Baroque interior underwent significant renovation around the mid-19th century: in 1848–1849, at the behest of Archpriest Alessio Tessitore, the central nave was widened, chapels were built, and the altars were restored; in 1857, the vault was decorated with frescoes by De Benedictis.
The building is in the Romanesque-Baroque style, featuring a large exposed-brick façade divided into two levels with a trefoil subdivision, a molded central portal, semicircular pediments above the side portals, and a large arched window at the top. The interior features three naves divided by pillars, with the central nave covered by a barrel vault and the side naves by cross vaults, along with neoclassical stucco work restored in the mid-19th century.
An interesting urban detail: in 1779, the portico that ran alongside the church was closed off with walls, creating the façade of the current Town Hall (Palazzo Priori). Today, the church and the town hall form a single continuous façade on the square.