Church of San Bernardino (Montegallo)

History of the Church of San Bernardino

The new center of Balzo grew up on the slopes of the mountain when the castle of Santa Maria in Gallo, by then in ruins and depopulated, was abandoned. The Church of San Bernardino was begun in that very period, between 1639 and 1640.

When it was closed to worship, the building was in a seriously deteriorated state. Its reopening was made possible by the efforts of the Regione Marche, the Conferenza Episcopale Italiana (the Italian bishops' conference) and the Diocese of Ascoli Piceno. With the reopening it became the first place of worship serving the faithful of the Montegallo community, hit hard by the earthquake of August 2016.

What to see in the Church of San Bernardino

The oldest detail is the portal. It dates from the 15th century and in all likelihood comes from the old village.

The restoration involved the controlled dismantling and rebuilding of the walls, with attention to the original masonry pattern. A steel ring beam was inserted inside and the entire roof was redone.

Visiting the Church of San Bernardino

The church stands in the highest part of the village and is reached by climbing a steep flight of steps. From there the village and a wide panorama can be seen, from the mountains to the sea.

Balzo was badly damaged by the 2016 shocks. Before setting out, it is therefore best to check with the Comune or the parish whether the church is open and how to get in.

Where the Church of San Bernardino is located

The church is in Balzo, a locality of Montegallo. Balzo is the seat of the municipality, which extends at the foot of Monte Vettore. The village lies almost in the center of the municipal territory and is home to the town hall and the parish church.

Around the Church of San Bernardino

Near the church are the entrance to the Pineta Taliani, a pine wood, the palazzetto Branconi and a tower-shaped dovecote.

The municipality also has the three churches of Bisignano: the Chiesa Nuova, the church of Santa Maria Maddalena (1578) and the church of the Madonna addolorata della Cona. Other religious buildings in the area are on the page devoted to the churches of the Sibillini Mountains.