hidden churches: Sabina's little gems
many small works of art scattered throughout the Sabine countryside, parish churches which have now become memories of the past
 Navata centrale |
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 Interno della Cattedrale |
 Cappella del Santissimo |
 Quadro dell'Assunzione di Maria |
 Chiesa di San Paolo |
The Cathedral of S.M. Assunta
The oldest parish church of Poggio Mirteto is the church of St. Paul (13th Century). The new parish church of S.M. Assunta (Saint Mary Assumption) was consecrated in 1487 adjacent to the Abbot's Palace inside the city walls. Later this church changed name to SS. Trinità ( Holy Trinity); currently it is called Sala Farnese and its a municipal hall. Due to the increasing population the church became too small so the community of Poggio Mirteto and the religious authorities decided to build a new church . The new St. Maria Assunta parish church was blessed in 1684, started operating in 1721 and was then consecrated on October the 3rd 1779 by Msgr Contessini. In 1837 Cardinal Luigi Lambruschini asked Pope Gregory XVI to transfer the seminary from S.Salvatore Maggiore to Poggio Mirteto and to grant Poggio Mirteto city status, both requests were granted. In 1841 Poggio Mirteto was appointed diocese and the parish church of S.M. Assunta became a Cathedral. In 1842 Msgr Nicola Crispigni became the first bishop of the new diocese. In 1925 the Diocese of Poggio Mirteto joined the Suburbicarian Diocese of Sabina which is now called the Suburbicarian Diocese of Sabina - Poggio Mirteto. In Poggio Mirteto there are also other important churches: San Paolo (St. Paul), San Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist), San Rocco (St. Roch) and the Madonna della Misericordia Sanctuary (Our Lady of Mercy).
Visit the Cathedral of S.M.Assunta
Open everyday:
from 8am to 12.30am, from 3pm to pm
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Mass times
Weekdays: 7.30am - 7pm
Holidays:7.30am - 10am - 11.30am - 7pm
How to get here
Poggio Mirteto
Piazza Martiri della Libertà
 interno San Paolo |
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 vista esterna |
San Paolo Church
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San Paolo church, the oldest church in Poggio Mirteto, dates back to the 13th century and has always been a churchyard. As it was the only burial ground in the village the underground charnel house became too small so the area beside the church – now known as San Paolo park – became the new cemetery. When the new cemetery was built in 1888 the church was gradually abandoned.
It houses some impressive restored frescoes. In the apse behind the altar note “Jesus crowning Mary” amongst a crowd of joyful angels. Their faces are expressive and well preserved, unlike the other figures that have been disfigured. Of particular interest are the angels playing musical instruments of that time: a tambourine, two flutes and four stringed instruments: a harp, a guitar, a lute, a violin.
Along the lower section is the fresco of the “Conversion of Saul” (or Paul). His conversion begins when he falls to the ground with his horse after seeing Jesus and hearing him speak to him. Saul is accompanied by four soldiers, two on horseback and two on foot. On the back wall there are other interesting frescoes such as the “Crowned Knight”, the “Deposition of Jesus” in the tomb, Solomon and Isaiah
Curiosities
# The church is not aligned, like many Gothic-Romanesque churches: the apse and the altar are not symmetrical to the entrance and the nave.
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# One of the most famous frescoes of San Paolo Church is ''the Meeting of the living and the dead” with an inscription written in a very rare example of local ancient dialect
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# It is said that due to the rituals that were celebrated here on Good Friday, the area was saved from the locust invasion that took place in 1654.
Events
Each year in the first 2 weeks of July the Italian Film Festival takes place in the park of San Paolo next to the church. National actors and directors participate and the famous “Mirto d'Oro” award ceremony takes place.
How to get here
Poggio Mirteto, via San Paolo
Call to visit:
Don Giuseppe, +39 339 6379487
 Interno della chiesa |
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 Prima della ristrutturazione |
 Affresco interno |
 dettaglio campanile |
The Church of Sant'Adamo
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The Church of Sant'Adamo was built near Colle San Giovanni in the Cantalupo territory in the province of Rieti and is first mentioned in 1150. The church was originally a chapel built over the grave of an old hermit who lived beside a Roman villa nearby. Later the chapel was dedicated to St Adamo and in the 15th century it was expanded and converted into a church. It is embellished by an elegant façade on the outside and on the inside by numerous frescoes excellently preserved. On entering note the single nave and the circular apse. The Church was abandoned for many years due to recent renovations ancient traditions can be revived much to the joy of the locals. During the celebrations in honouring the Saint the locals carried the statue of Saint Adamo in a procession from the Parish church to the church of Saint Adamo. Many artifacts were found near the church: wall remains of an ancient villa form the first Imperial era and numerous fragments of columns, statues, a Catinus stone with a column frame and even some fragments of Roman pottery etc.
Curiosities
# The Church of St Adamo is located on the Calentino riverbank. According to a legend, one of the first towns that formed the castle of Cantalupo once stood here. It is one of the oldest churches of Cantalupo and the spot it is on has always been a favoured place since ancient times because it is where the livestock and goods fair takes place.
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# During recent renovations 15th century frescoes were found under some layers of plaster. The frescoes depict St. Sebastian, St. Francis and St. Anthony of Padova, as well as a Madonna del Latte (Virgin Mary feeding) and a Madonna della Misericordia (Our Lady of Mercy)
How to get here
Cantalupo in Sabina, via Sant'Adamo
Call to visit: Tel: +39 0765 514031
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The Church of San Giovanni
It is said that the church was designed by Angelo Savi from Parma,. In 1720 the church was renovated following Alessandro Specchi's design. It is dedicated to St. John the Baptist Beheaded and consecrated in 1601, as inscribed on the lintel above the two doors of the facade. The church was also used as a burial ground up until the early 1800s when a new law prohibited burying the dead within the city walls. The dead were also buried in designated crypts beneath the church that can be accessed by a staircase in the sacristy.On entering the church note the single nave with two chapels on both sides. The main altarpiece is rather unique because it is depicted on either side. On one side the birth of John the Baptist and on the other side John the Baptist's beheading, and a servant who handed the head to Herodias' daughter. The preciousness of this altarpiece was recognised the recent renovations of the church. Today thanks to an electronic system the framework rotates on itself so both paintings can be admired.
Curiosities
# the bell tower on the facade is of particular interest. The belfry replaced the original church tower in 1837 when Cardinal Lambruschini decided to expand the palace beside the church to make more room for the seminary transferred from St. Salvatore Maggiore to Poggio Mirteto
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#On two of the three bells there is the Pope's coat of arms and there are inscriptions testifying that during the papacy of Pope Clemente XIV 'the protector', the Misericordia company donated the money to make the bells. The conventual friar Fra Lorenzo Ganganelli (the future Clemente XIV pope from 1769 to 1774) had been in St Valentine's convent in Poggio Mirteto. When he became cardinal the Misericordia company asked him to be their protector. The cardinal was happy to accept the request his answer can be read in one of the two handwritten letters in conserved in the parish archives . This is the reason why that when he became pope he was known as 'the protector'.
How to get here
Poggio Mirteto, Piazza Mario Dottori
Free visits
Open everyday from 9am to 19pm
