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Church of Madonna del Domo (Castelsantangelo sul Nera)

Church of Madonna del Domo (Castelsantangelo sul Nera)

Type
Church
Municipality
Castelsantangelo sul NeraCastelsantangelo sul Nera (MC)

Source: site database, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

The Church of Madonna del Domo (Chiesa della Madonna del Domo), also called the church of Santa Maria del Domo, is in Nocelleto, a hamlet of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, in the province of Macerata. It is a small 13th-century Romanesque church with a single nave, dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It stands in a hidden spot, along a narrow path through the woods near the village. The name is often mistaken for "Duomo", but the church has nothing to do with a cathedral.

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On the map

Points from the site database. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors · Protomaps.

History of the Church of Madonna del Domo

The Jacobilli codex lists the church among those donated in 1253 to the Abbazia di Sant'Eutizio. Two stories circulate about its origins. According to a recent hypothesis, the building is linked to the Templars who are said to have operated in the territory of Castelsantangelo sul Nera: the word "Domo" would indicate the place where the knights had their house.

Popular tradition instead connects it with the miracle of the Translation of the Holy House to Loreto. The church is said to stand at one of the spots where the angels stopped to rest.

What to see in the Church of Madonna del Domo

The building is small and simple: it has a single nave, a gabled roof and a portico in front of the entrance. Above the portal is the inscription "Onore Nativitas Beate Maria".

Inside is a statue of the Madonna and Child. It is a copy, commissioned by the people of Nocelleto after the 16th-century original was stolen in 1980.

Visiting the Church of Madonna del Domo

The church is reached on foot, along the woodland path. One fixed date is August 15, when a procession climbs to the church to celebrate the Madonna dell'Assunta.

Nocelleto was hit by the 2016 earthquake. Before setting out, it is therefore best to ask the Comune di Castelsantangelo sul Nera (town hall) whether the path and the church are accessible.

Where the Church of Madonna del Domo is located

The church is in Nocelleto, a small hamlet south of the main village. From Castelsantangelo sul Nera, take the road south to the hamlet, where parking is possible.

The woodland path starts from the locality of Cai Batoli and rejoins the municipal road. It climbs the slopes of Monte Cardosa.

Around the Church of Madonna del Domo

Nocelleto also has the church of Santa Maria Castellare, damaged by the earthquake. In the main village, the Romanesque church of San Martino holds 15th- and 16th-century frescoes of the Umbrian school. The historic center is surrounded by walls with five gates and a square tower, and the springs of the Nera river rise within the municipality.

For a hike, a loop starts from Nocelleto to the Church of Madonna della Cona and Monte Lieto. It is a long, demanding hike with more than a thousand meters of elevation gain. For other places of worship in the area, see the page on the churches of the Sibillini Mountains.

Frequently asked questions

Are the church of Santa Maria del Domo and the "Duomo" of Nocelleto the same thing?

Yes. It is the same church, located in Nocelleto, a hamlet of Castelsantangelo sul Nera. The name "Duomo" is however a common mistake: the building is a small single-nave church dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, not a cathedral.

Why is the church called "del Domo"?

According to a recent hypothesis, the word "Domo" would indicate the place where the Templars had their house in the territory of Castelsantangelo sul Nera. There is also a different popular tradition: the church would stand where the angels stopped to rest during the Translation of the Holy House to Loreto.

When does the procession to the church take place?

The procession is held every year on August 15, to celebrate the Madonna dell'Assunta. On that day the local people climb to the church along the woodland path near Nocelleto. For other dates or openings, it is best to ask the Comune di Castelsantangelo sul Nera.

Where can you park to reach the church?

Parking is possible in Nocelleto, the small hamlet reached by heading south from the main village. From there the church is reached on foot, along a narrow woodland path that starts from the locality of Cai Batoli and climbs the slopes of Monte Cardosa.

Nearby

Straight-line distances.