Important Sanctuaries

In order to take shelter from the cold winds, that strike the Castle walls, the inhabitants of Mondolfo know that they can go to the valley of Madonna of the Caves, situated on the west side of the town. Close by the Marian shrine, annual destination of thousands of faithful, you can rest in a luxuriant pine-wood and go for a walk along nice paths of the Tufa Valley, an ecological-cultural path in full touch with the nature of the Marche, in a landscape where the vine and the olive-tree are predominant and where the African bee-eater builds a nest.

The sanctuary is not far from the town centre of Ostra. It was built in 1754 on the site of an aedicule where the image of the Vergin called Madonna of the Rose by the faithful because of the flower that she holds in her hand.

People say that in May 166 a young devout girl laid a flower before the image. Surprisingly it remained fresh for many months, so crowds of pilgrims went to this site. Due to their large number the aedicule was widened until it became the modern sumptuous church in Neoclassical style with a Baroque undertone.

The façade with simple lines and the elegant and robust belfry were built at the end of the 19^th century. Inside there are many votive tablets and Turkish flags of the year 1717.

The fame of the miracles performed by the Vergin Mary reached the Pope who granted the honor of the solemn coronation to the miraculous image and the title of sanctuary to the Chapel.

In the year 1456 a votive aedicule where the image of the Vergin Mary was painted was turned into a chapel, in order to thank the Vergin for having liberated the town from the plague. She was worshipped as the Vergin of Mercy.

The Carmelites were asked to celebrate Mass and they built a church dedicated to the Madonna del Carmine which was completed in 1509.

In 1619 the modern belfry with the typical octagonal shape was built; between 1751 and 1756 the church was completely renovated in Baroque style by Nicola Maiolatesi from Jesi.

The original little chapel was added to this larger building but it still houses the 15^th century painting by Andrea di Bartolo representing the Vergin of Mercy . At the sides two 19^th century paintings by Angelo Zona (1843) and Luigi Mancini from Jesi (1850) recall the miraculous intervention of the Virgin against the plague and against the French in 1557.

At the five side altars having columns and valuable stuccoed decorations above other paintings representing the mysteries of the life of Jesus painted by Luigi Lanci from Fabriano were placed, except for the Nativity painted in 1759 by Nicola Bertucci from Ancona.

Also the little chapel was adapted to this modern taste and it was projected again by Mattia Capponi. The decorations at the vault were carried out by Luigi Lanci.

The Carmelites left the sanctuary after Napoleon’s occupation and after the Unification of Italy. They’ve become again the custodians of the new Sanctuary. They live in the adjacent convent which was completed in 1624 with the construction of the cloister, where stories of life of St. Teresa of Avila are painted in the lunettes.

San Giuseppe da Copertino, known as the “The Saint of flights”, is one of the most interesting personalities of the Christian mysticism.

As well as being the students’ patron Saint, he’s the same for the Catholic Anglo-Saxon aviation and the catholic NATO paratroopers. In Osimo, where he died in 1663, is the basilica dedicated to him, prior called Church of San Francesco. On the occasion of his beatification (1753), the Minor Friars decided to renovate and enrich it, according to time, and commissioned the work to the architect Andrea Vici. The Saint’s remains were placed under the altar in 1771. Among the housed works it is important to note the painting of the Madonna Enthroned with Saints by Antonio Solario; the canvas of the Crucifixion by Francesco Solimena. The Crypt, with the Saint’s remains, was built in 1963, on the occasion of the third centenary of his death. The Saint’s rooms were preserved in their original condition, including the three bedrooms that housed St. Giuseppe da Copertino from 1657 to 1663 and the oratory where he celebrated the Holy Mass.

Loreto, a small town of Ancona Province, is known all over the world for its Sanctuary that makes it one of the most important places of pilgrimage and pray for the Catholics, together with Medjugorje and Lourdes. The believers go to Loreto to give prays of devotion to the ruins of the Holy House where Jesus lived in Nazareth. On the basis of a former ancient tradition and latter historical and archeological researches, it is confirmed indeed that the Loreto Sanctuary keeps the Nazarene House of Mary; according to tradition, when in 1921 the crusaders were driven from Palestine out, the walls of the house of Mary were brought first to Illyria (to Tersatto, the present Croatia) and then to Loreto (10 December 1294).

Inside the Sanctuary you will admire: The Dome – The Crucifix Chapel – the French Chapel or Sacrament’s – the Slavic Chapel or Cirillo and Metodio Saints – the Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel or American’s – the Choir Chapel or German’s – the Sacred Heart Chapel or Polish’s – the St John Sacristy or Signorelli’s – the Urbino Dukes Chapel – the St Joseph Chapel or Spanish’s – the Swiss Chapel or Gioacchino and Ann Saints – St Mark Sacristy or Melozzo’s – the side Chapels –the Treasure Room or Pomarancio’s.

The square outside the Sanctuary ends in the northern and western sides with the Apostles Palace, in the eastern side with the front of the Basilica, and in the southern side with the Illyrian Palace; on you r left hand you will admire the Bell Tower drawn by Luigi Vanvitelli; instead, in the middle there is the Fountain by Carlo Maderno and Giovanni Fontana.
We have to mention the impressive Basilica of Loreto Dome built in the octagonal drum, up to the eaves by Giuliano da Maiano; it was vaulted by Giuliano da Sangallo in only eight months, from September 1499 to May 1500.

“The Loreto Holy House is the first Sanctuary of International importance dedicated to the Virgin and the true Marian heart of Christianity”. (Pope John Paul II)

The unique and evocative sanctuary of St. Emidius alle Grotte is a magnificent example of religious Baroque art in the Marche. It’s called “ alle grotte” because it’s placed against the caves of the old Christian necropolis.

It’s set apart from the town and it’s surrounded by vegetation and silence.

People say that St. Emidius himself brought here miraculously his decapitated head in order to be buried here.

This site was rediscovered in 1721 as the people from Ascoli Piceno wanted to thank their patron saint for the protection allowed during the earthquake of the year 1703. The most famous local architect of that time, Giuseppe Giosafatti, projected the little temple: he unearthed the pre- Christian caves by partially demolishing the stone wall and he added a finely carved travertine façade to it.

The monumental Sanctuary is considered the little Lourdes of the Sibillini Mountains. It’s in Montefortino, between the Priora and Castel Manardo Mountains, in a isolated and wonderful scenery 683 meters above the sea level. It’s named after the Ambro creek, a tributary to the Tenna river.

After a miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary in the year 1000, the shepherdess Santina, dumb since her birth, could speak. A little chapel was built to remember this miracle. Local lords made gifts for the chapel in 1073. The sacred image of the Madonna del Lambro was moved to the new seat built by the municipality in 1602.

Painters and sculptors such as Martino Bonfini da Patrignone (XVII century), Domenico Malpiedi (1634), Virginio Parodi from the Vatican School (1928) have decorated the Chapel of the Madonna during the centuries.

At present Capuchin friars take care of the sanctuary and its surrounding area.

Due to the earthquake occurred in 2016, the sanctuary is closed. For further information please write to numeroverde.turismo@regione.marche.it

The Sanctuary of Macereto is on the homonymous plateau of Macereto, near Visso, in the Sibillini mountains, and it’s an extraordinary example of Renaissance architecture in the Marche. People say that in the past miracles took place here so it became a place of widespread popular devotion.

It was built in 1529 by Giovan Battista da Lugano , although the original plan was most probably by Bramante, and it replaced the previous church erected in the year 1359. The construction was suspended when Lugano died and started again in 1553 under the guidance of Filippo Salvi da Bissone and finished in 1556.

The magnificent Sanctuary, covered in travertine, has an octagonal plan with the external structures on three sides in correspondence to the three entrances to the church.

The inner church plan is in the form of a Greek cross with four wings, each of them ending in four apses with niches. In the middle of the temple stands the ancient chapel that was covered in stone in 1585-1590.

In the apse of the main altar there’s a very nice chapel with stucco decorations and statues, and most notably, some artworks by Simone de Magistris painted from 1580-1582: the “Birth of Christ”, “The Worship of the Magi”, “The descent of the Holy Spirit”, the “Circumcision”, la “Nativity of the Virgin Mary”, and the “Flight to Egypt”.

The Sanctuary is currently damaged due to earthquake 2016. Some parts of the monument have been fenced.

The Basilica of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino is one of the most important sanctuaries of central Italy.
St. Nicholas of Tolentino (1245-1305) was an Augustinian friar, miracle worker and great preacher. He lived in the convent of the Hermit Friars of St. Augustine in the city, from 1275 until his death. He reached such a high notoriety during his life, especially for his extraordinary miracle working powers, that he was venerated and canonized in a short time (1325). St. Nicholas is venerated as the patron saint of the souls in purgatory and the protector of motherhood and childhood difficulties.
The basilica was consecrated in 1465. The interior is a rectangular nave with a polygonal apse. 

The coffered wooden ceiling and eight chapels date back to the 17th century. It preserves important works of art (S. Anna by Guercino, S. Tommaso da Villanova by G. Ghezzi). The great 17th century chapel of the Holy Sacrament, topped by a cupola, is on the left of the altar. The arms of St. Nicholas are preserved in the Chapel of the Holy Arms (Sante Braccia). An attempt at theft was made after the saint's death, but failed because the amputated arms began to gush blood. The miraculous event is represented in the painting by G. Foschi near the high altar. Two large paintings are preserved in the chapel, ex-voto offerings, “L’incendio del Palazzo Ducale a Venezia” by Matteo Stom and "La Peste a Genova” (or in Venice, according to some) by Giovanni Carboncino. 

Of particular value is the Cappellone (Chapel) whose frescoes painted by artists from Rimini (Pietro, Giuliano and Giovanni Baronzio) of the Giotto school, are the highest examples of 14th century painting in the Marche. The chapel floor plan is rectangular and has a cross vault. A Renaissance marble arch, with the statue of St. Nicholas above it, is in the centre of the Chapel. The Museum of the Basilica, that can be reached by staircase, houses numerous paintings and sculptures, precious ceramics, offerings and permanent Nativity exhibitions. The cloister is considered to be one of the most interesting in the Marche. Here the Saint's cell is found, now converted into the oratory of the Augustinian community that still preserves two early 16 th century frescoed lunettes, representing episodes of the saint’s life.

Due to the earthquake occurred in 2016, the basilica is temporarily closed. Nevertheless you can visit a room where the urn of the Saint has been placed. 

Set in the wonderful scenery of the Gorge of Frasassi, not far from the wellknown Frasassi Caves, walking up a steep path you can reach the elegant little temple of Frasassi.

In 1828 it was commissioned by the native pope Leo XII (Annibale della Genga) to the Italian architect Giuseppe Valadier

It’s in Neoclassical style, with a octagonal plan and a copper dome. The new temple was built using white travertine blocks extracted from a stone quarry above the cave. On the altar there is a venerated statue of the Virgin with the Infant Jesus. It’s a copy of the original statue by the school of Antonio Canova which is housed in the Museum of Genga.

When construction works were carried out to build the church, earth ovens , two wells of wheat, some coins and many human bones were discovered. This means that this site was used by people searching for a shelter during the raids of Barbarians as it was hard to get to it.