The Chiesa Madre — Erice's main church, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin — was built in 1314 by Frederick II of Aragon using stones from the ancient Temple of Venus. The bell tower stands detached from the main body of the church, originally serving as a watchtower. The interior contains a marble Madonna attributed to Francesco Laurana, a 15th-century sculptor who worked extensively in Sicily.
The church faces onto the main piazza at the entrance to the village, which makes it the first substantial building most visitors encounter. Its Gothic rose window is the most recognisable image of Erice and appears in countless photographs of the village.