Church of San Lorenzo (Fiastra)

History of the Church of San Lorenzo

The church is protected as a cultural heritage site, and its oldest part dates from the Romanesque period. Tradition speaks of Benedictine origins, and some suggest it stands on an earlier pagan temple. The building is the result of joining two churches: a Romanesque one, the older, and one built later. Of the original building, the central nave and the right aisle remain, while another church was built on the left side.

The building stands on the slopes of the hill of San Paolo, where the castle used to be. The modern village of San Lorenzo al Lago grew up around the church. In 1600 the parish had 76 families, a total of 327 people.

What to see in the Church of San Lorenzo

The main interest lies in the Romanesque frescoes of the oldest part, which has a single nave. On the right wall the decoration unfolds in several bands. At the top, Christ is repeated three times, facing forward, within spaces marked by small columns and arches, and holds in his arms small heads that allude to the souls of the faithful. A band with a lion and a leopard, and one with scrolling foliage, complete the decoration. Below are horizontal bands with ornaments and drapery, reduced to a few fragments. On the left wall, level with the altar, is a crucifix still partly covered by a coat of whitewash.

The frescoes are incomplete and fragmentary. The second church, on the other hand, has three frescoes from the 15th-16th century: St. Lawrence with the gridiron, the Madonna and Child, and San Venanzio holding the town of Camerino on a plate. The bell tower is at the back.

How to visit the Church of San Lorenzo

The church is temporarily closed to the public for restoration work after the 2016 earthquake, so its interior cannot be visited. The building also has architectural barriers. Before setting out, it is advisable to check whether it has reopened. From the outside, the structure on the promontory can still be seen.

Where the Church of San Lorenzo is located

The church is in San Lorenzo al Lago, a hamlet of the municipality of Fiastra, on the right shore of the lake. The municipal seat is Trebbio. Lago di Fiastra is an artificial reservoir created in the 1950s by damming the Fiastrone river. The right shore is considered the most accessible.

Around the Church of San Lorenzo in Fiastra

From the small beach of San Lorenzo al Lago starts the Sentiero natura (nature trail), a route of a few kilometers that reaches almost to the dam. The lakefront is well suited to walks. A short distance away, on the hill of San Paolo, are the Chiesa di San Paolo and the Castello Magalotti. The Chiesa di San Paolo was damaged by the 2016 earthquake. A first round of restoration funding was released in October 2023. Other churches in the area are gathered on the page about the churches of the Sibillini Mountains.