You will find the small church of Santa Maria in the ample stretch of nature that separates Sabbiadoro from Pineta (now owned by GETUR), one of the oldest buildings in Lignano Sabbiadoro, dating back to the 15th century.
It was originally located in the nearby Bevazzana, on the left bank of the Tagliamento, between 1965-1966. It was rebuilt in its current location, as it was about to be swept away by the destructive flooding of the river.
The frescos adorning the church are especially interesting and date back to a period around the 15 century. Some works by the sculptor Giovanni Antonio Pilacorte are also conserved in the church.
An quirky story says that the ghost of Pope Gregory XII lingers between the walls of Santa Maria del Mare church. The legend is tied to the incident that, when he was being pursued by the troops of feudal rebels, the pope took refuge in Santa Maria, before embarking into the open seas.
