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Church of Natività di Maria in Capolapiaggia (Camerino)

Church of Natività di Maria in Capolapiaggia (Camerino)

Type
Church
Municipality
Camerino (MC)

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

The Church of Natività di Maria in Capolapiaggia (Chiesa della Natività di Maria in Capolapiaggia) is the church of the hamlet of the same name in Camerino, in Le Marche. It holds a 15th-century wooden sculpture of the Madonna della Misericordia. Behind the church, on June 24, 1944, the worst of the massacres carried out that day in the hamlets northeast of Camerino took place. After the 2016 earthquake the building was made safe and then restored with private funds.

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On the map

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

History of the Church of Natività di Maria in Capolapiaggia

The name of Capolapiaggia is linked above all to the events of 1944. The partisans of the Battaglione Gian Mario Fazzini, led by Father Nicola Rilli, known as Comandante Lino, were quartered in the hamlet. On June 24, 1944 Nazi-Fascist units carried out a roundup in the villages northeast of Camerino. The men captured in Pozzuolo were taken to Capolapiaggia: first the partisans were killed, then the civilians. The bodies remained on the spot for several days, until permission was given to bury them in the cemetery.

After the tremors of October 2016 the church was made safe. It was later restored thanks to private generosity, outside the state-funded reconstruction, and inaugurated as the community's church. Archbishop Francesco Massara recalled that the restoration is owed to two people affected by the earthquake.

What to see in the Church of Natività di Maria in Capolapiaggia

Inside is a 15th-century sculpture of the Madonna della Misericordia, in carved and painted wood. It shows the Virgin opening her cloak to protect the faithful kneeling at her feet. The work comes from the nearby sanctuary of the Madonna della Misericordia in Pielapiaggia.

Behind the church are a memorial stone and a marble slab with bronze inscriptions bearing the names of the victims of 1944. The slab is fixed to the wall in front of which the victims were shot. The recently restored village also offers a panoramic view.

Visiting the Church of Natività di Maria in Capolapiaggia

Capolapiaggia is a small hamlet and the church is a place of reflection: a visit to the memorial behind the building calls for the respect due to a place of remembrance. Before setting out, it is best to check whether the interior is accessible: the church was returned to the community after the restoration. The interest of the visit does not depend on the season.

Where the Church of Natività di Maria in Capolapiaggia is located

The church stands in Capolapiaggia, a hamlet of the municipality of Camerino, in the province of Macerata. The center of Camerino is a few kilometers away. Routes and travel times should be checked with a navigation device.

Around the Church of Natività di Maria in Capolapiaggia

Nearby is Pielapiaggia, with the sanctuary the sculpture of the Madonna della Misericordia comes from. Letegge and Pozzuolo, hamlets northeast of Camerino, were also struck by the events of June 24, 1944. For other religious sites in the area, the list of churches of the Sibillini Mountains is a good starting point.

Frequently asked questions

Was the church in Capolapiaggia restored after the earthquake?

Yes. After the October 2016 earthquake the church was made safe. The restoration was then carried out thanks to private solidarity and is not part of the state-funded reconstruction. The church was inaugurated and has once again become a point of reference for the small community of the hamlet.

What does the memorial behind the church in Capolapiaggia commemorate?

It commemorates the massacre of June 24, 1944, when Nazi-Fascist units killed many people, partisans and civilians. Behind the church are a memorial stone and a marble slab with bronze inscriptions bearing the names of the victims. The slab is fixed to the wall in front of which the shootings took place.

Where does the Madonna della Misericordia kept in Capolapiaggia come from?

The sculpture comes from the nearby sanctuary of the Madonna della Misericordia in Pielapiaggia. It is a 15th-century work in carved and painted wood. It shows the Virgin with her cloak open protecting the kneeling faithful, an iconography widespread in the Renaissance as a symbol of mercy and protection.

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