The oratory of the Confraternita dei Neri Mortis et Orationis is located in the main square of the town, next to the church of San Giovanni Battista. Also known as the oratory of Santa Maria di Porto Salvo, it was built in the 17th century in Baroque style. Characterized by the two-tone façade plastered with black and white stripes renovated in 1922, the entrance is preceded by a short flight of steps leading into a simple portal, flanked by two smaller side portals, surmounted by a lunette depicting a skull superimposed on two crossbones and the words "Mortis-et-Orationis Confraternitas". The upper part of the façade is centrally embellished by a three-light window, while on the sides, along the same axis as the side portals, two pairs of small semi-columns with Corinthian capitals rise up.
The interior is dominated by the same decorative style as the façade: skulls and skeletons looking at the faithful among the stucco decorations and frescoes, reminding us of the transience of life for each person. There is also a statue of Sant'Antonio Abate, coming from the disappeared convent dedicated to the saint, present around the year 1000 on the Mesco promontory.
The brotherhood of the Blacks played a very important role in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, mainly to give burial to the less well-off people, at a time when it was common not to have money for this last act of charity. The continuous wars and famines of those centuries resulted in the deaths of dozens and dozens of people, in many cases left to their fate. The activity of the brotherhood, also called "The company of death", was also completed with forty hours of prayer and adoration of the consecrated host. For this reason the company took the name of Mortis et Orationis and with Pope Pius IV, in 1560 it was recognized the right to receive alms, to build churches and oratories and to found new brotherhoods.
The brothers wore a black robe, with a black cord, a hood and a collar, which also had the function of a mask to try to defend themselves from the strong smell of decomposition.