Church of San Martino (Castelsantangelo sul Nera)

History of the Church of San Martino

The church was built in Romanesque style toward the end of the 13th century. It was the work of local 13th-century craftsmen and is owned by a church body.

The history of the hamlet is tied to that of its borders. The territory of Gualdo and of the Pian Perduto plateau was the subject of a war against Norcia, which ended on July 20, 1522 in favor of Castelsantangelo. The shepherd-poet Berettaccia, who lived in the 17th century, told the story in verse in La battaglia del Pian Perduto (The Battle of Pian Perduto).

What to see in the Church of San Martino

The interior has a single vaulted nave. A large arch separates the space of the faithful from the apse, where the big niche holds a polychrome wooden Crucifix from the school of the Petraioli and Intagliatori Vissani, the stonemasons and woodcarvers of Visso.

On the high altar is a 16th-century wooden tabernacle. To its left is a fresco from 1582 attributed to Angelucci and Poggini.

Visiting the Church of San Martino in Castelsantangelo sul Nera

The epicenter of the 2016 earthquake was in the municipality of Castelsantangelo sul Nera. The town and its hamlets suffered very serious damage. Before traveling, it is therefore advisable to ask the Comune (town hall) whether the interior can be visited and on which days. The same applies to the condition of the works described.

Where the Church of San Martino is located

The church is in the center of Gualdo, a hamlet of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, in the Marche. Gualdo lies at just under 1,000 m above sea level. The municipality is home to the springs of the Nera river and is the point where the Valnerina begins.

Around the Church of San Martino

Gualdo has another church, Santa Maria Assunta. To compare other religious buildings of the area, see the page dedicated to churches in the Sibillini Mountains.