Church of San Giovanni Battista (Visso)

History of the Church of San Giovanni Battista

The dedication recalls St. John the Baptist, patron saint of the Visso community. His feast is an important moment for the town. In June 2022, after six years of interruption, the procession through the streets of Visso returned.

The more recent history of the building is tied to the 2016 earthquake. The tremors of October 26 and 30 made about 90% of the buildings in Visso unsafe. The Church of San Giovanni Battista was severely compromised, with major cracks in the walls and ceiling.

What to see in the Church of San Giovanni Battista

After the earthquake, nine works of art were recovered from the church. The most prestigious is a 16th-century wooden statue of St. John the Baptist, striking for the naturalism with which the saint is portrayed.

How to visit the Church of San Giovanni Battista

Because of the damage it suffered, the church should not be considered open to visitors without checking first. It is advisable to ask the Comune (town hall) or the parish for information before traveling.

Where the Church of San Giovanni Battista is located

The church is in Visso, in Le Marche. The main town lies at about 600 m above sea level on the valley floor, in the basin of the Nera river.

Around the Church of San Giovanni Battista in Visso

In Visso stands the Collegiata di Santa Maria, Romanesque-Gothic in style and consecrated in 1256. It too was hit by the earthquake: in 2022 restoration was awaited, scheduled to start in spring 2023. The Rocca di San Giovanni is a viewpoint over the Visso basin and the massif of Monte Bove. Here too, it is worth checking accessibility.

A few kilometers from the town, on the Macereto plateau, stands the Sanctuary of Macereto, a Renaissance church begun in 1529. For other sacred buildings in the area, see the page on the churches of the Sibillini Mountains.