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Church of Maina (Castelsantangelo sul Nera)

Church of Maina (Castelsantangelo sul Nera)
Photo: Lorenzo Vagni / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Church of Maina (Castelsantangelo sul Nera)

Type
Church
Municipality
Castelsantangelo sul Nera (MC)

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

The Church of Maina (Chiesa della Maina) is in Vallinfante, a hamlet of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, in the province of Macerata. It is also known as Madonna delle Gee. It is a small Romanesque-style church with a single nave, at the edge of the village. It holds an image of the Madonna that is very important to the local people, and its name is linked to a legend in which a bear saves a child from a flood. Vallinfante bears the marks of the 2016 earthquake, and the last stretch to the church is unpaved.

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On the map

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

History of the Church of Maina

The exact date of construction is not known. Local tradition says the church stands at the spot where a child, threatened by the flooded river, was carried to safety by a bear and taken into a cave.

The name has an explanation too. "Maina" comes from the Latin imago, because an icon of the Madonna is kept inside. "Madonna delle Gee" comes instead from the German Gebirge, meaning mountain.

A recent interpretation links the building to the Cona, in a group of seven or nine churches. Their positions would trace the constellation of Virgo on the ground.

What to see in the Church of Maina

The church consists of a single four-sided room with one nave. Its most significant feature is the image of the Madonna kept inside, to which the local people are deeply attached. The setting also deserves attention: the church stands at the edge of the village, in an area told of in the legend of the bear.

Visiting the Church of Maina

By car, drive to near the springs of the Nera, then take the road back toward the center of Vallinfante. Continue along an unpaved stretch to a small clearing where the car can be left, in the direction of the church.

Alternatively, a hiking route starts from Vallinfante and takes in the church and the Cascata del Pisciatore waterfall. It is a hike of a few hours, with modest elevation gain. Since the area was hit by the earthquake, it is best to check the condition of roads and trails before setting out.

Where the Church of Maina is located

The church is in Vallinfante, in the municipality of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, in Le Marche. It stands at the end of the village. Vallinfante is just a few kilometers from the main village of the municipality.

Around the Church of Maina

Near Vallinfante are the springs of the Nera river, with a picnic area. From there the trail to the Cascata del Pisciatore starts, about 3 km one way. For other places of worship in the area, see the list of churches of the Sibillini Mountains.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the Church of Maina also called Madonna delle Gee?

The name Madonna delle Gee comes from the German Gebirge, meaning mountain. "Maina" comes instead from the Latin imago, because an icon of the Madonna is kept in the church. Both names refer to the same building, in Vallinfante, a hamlet of Castelsantangelo sul Nera.

What is the legend of the bear linked to the Church of Maina?

According to local tradition, a child threatened by a flood was miraculously saved by a bear, which carried him to safety in a cave. The church is said to stand at the very place of that rescue. The construction date of the building is not precisely known.

Can you drive all the way to the Church of Maina?

Almost. The route passes the springs of the Nera, climbs toward the center of Vallinfante and continues along an unpaved stretch to a small clearing for parking. From there, follow the direction of the church. The village was hit by the 2016 earthquake.

Nearby

Straight-line distances.