Church of San Biagio in Rocca d'Ajello (Camerino)

History of the Church of San Biagio in Rocca d'Ajello

The building stands on the site of a 9th-century abbey, a monastic settlement that depended on the abbey of Sassovivo in Foligno. The apse fresco, from 1523, is attributed to a painter of the school of Girolamo di Giovanni.

The nearby Rocca d'Ajello was a fortress of the Da Varano dukes, lords of Camerino between the 13th and 16th centuries. The two towers were built by Gentile I da Varano around 1260. After the end of Da Varano rule, in the mid-16th century, the castle passed to the Papal States and then to various families. In the second half of the 19th century it was bought by Ortenzio Vitalini, and it still belongs to his descendants.

What to see in the Church of San Biagio in Rocca d'Ajello

The main piece is the apse fresco. It depicts Christ crucified with, at his feet, Mary, John and the bishop San Biagio (Saint Blaise). Outside, the light-colored portal is framed by roses.

Around the church are the old rectory and the castle, with its two towers with Guelph battlements and its rectangular gardens enclosed by crenellated walls. The gardens are full of roses and dahlias, which bloom from spring to fall.

Visiting the Church of San Biagio in Rocca d'Ajello

After the earthquake, the state of the church should not be taken for granted. The castle, damaged by the 2016 earthquake, was later repaired with work to reduce its seismic vulnerability. Before setting out, it is therefore best to check whether the church is accessible.

The castle is now a hospitality venue. Visits to the interior of the fortress have been indicated as by appointment.

Where the Church of San Biagio in Rocca d'Ajello is located

The church is in the locality of Rocca d'Ajello, in the municipality of Camerino, a few kilometers from the center. It stands opposite the castle, on a rise at about 400 m above sea level overlooking the valley between Camerino and Castelraimondo.

Around the Church of San Biagio in Rocca d'Ajello

The most interesting place near the church is the Rocca d'Ajello, with its towers and gardens. Camerino, an old university town, preserves a medieval layout with town walls and squares. For another church in the town, see the page on the Basilica of San Venanzio in Camerino. Other churches in the area are on the churches of the Sibillini Mountains page.