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Church of San Martino dei Gualdesi (Castelsantangelo sul Nera)

Church of San Martino dei Gualdesi (Castelsantangelo sul Nera)

Type
Church
Municipality
Castelsantangelo sul Nera (MC)

Source: site database, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

The Church of San Martino dei Gualdesi (Chiesa di San Martino dei Gualdesi) stands in Castelsantangelo sul Nera, in the province of Macerata. It is a 14th-century building of Romanesque character, dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. It was commissioned by the people of Gualdo as their parish church inside the castle walls. The 2016 earthquake damaged it heavily, a point to keep in mind when planning a visit.

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Points from the site database. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors · Protomaps.

History of the Church of San Martino dei Gualdesi

The church was built in the 14th century by the people of Gualdo, who dedicated it to their patron saint. The Liber Censuum Ecclesiae Spoletinae lists it among the buildings dependent on the Pieve di Visso. Today it is a subsidiary church of the parish of Santo Stefano.

The 1997 earthquake caused cracks throughout the structure and made a restoration project necessary. Then the shock of October 26, 2016, with its epicenter in Castelsantangelo sul Nera, seriously damaged the building and its decoration. The bell tower is the element that suffered the most damage.

What to see in the Church of San Martino dei Gualdesi

The architecture follows the patterns of the inland areas, with Romanesque features still recognizable. Two portals open on the right side, one plain and one more elaborate. The tower-shaped bell tower has three tiers separated by cornices and, near the top, three double-lancet windows and one single-lancet window. The spire was taken down after the mid-19th century for stability reasons.

The interior has a single nave, with a gabled roof supported by four pointed arches. The frescoes are of the Umbrian school, from the 15th-16th centuries. They are attributed to Paolo da Visso and Paolo Bontulli da Percanestro. Among the works recorded are a Sunday Christ (Cristo della Domenica) with Gothic inscriptions on the right wall and a large Saint Christopher in the area of the ciborium. The high altar is in carved stone, beneath a pointed canopy resting on two small columns with lions.

Visiting the Church of San Martino dei Gualdesi

After the 2016 damage, access to the interior cannot be taken for granted. Before setting out, it is advisable to ask the Comune di Castelsantangelo sul Nera (the town hall) about visiting options and the state of the works.

Where the Church of San Martino dei Gualdesi is located

The church stands in the upper part of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, near Porta Castello. On a walk through the village it is reached after piazza del Ponte and the Church of San Sebastiano.

Around the Church of San Martino dei Gualdesi

A short distance to the north is the monastery of San Liberatore; to the south, the church of San Sebastiano. The route continues with porta Sant'Angelo, the Church of Santo Stefano in Castelsantangelo sul Nera and porta Nocrina. Many religious buildings in the village were damaged by the earthquake, so it is best to check beforehand what is accessible. Other places of religious interest in the area are collected on the page about churches in the Sibillini Mountains.

Frequently asked questions

Was the Church of San Martino dei Gualdesi damaged by the earthquake?

Yes. The building and its decoration were heavily damaged by the 2016 earthquake, in particular by the shock of 26 October, whose epicenter was in Castelsantangelo sul Nera. The bell tower was the most affected structural element. Before planning a visit, it is advisable to ask the Comune about access.

Who built the Church of San Martino dei Gualdesi, and when?

It was built in the 14th century by the people of Gualdo, who wanted it as their parish church inside the castle walls. They dedicated it to their patron saint, Martin of Tours. It is a church of Romanesque character. The Liber Censuum Ecclesiae Spoletinae lists it among the buildings dependent on the Pieve di Visso.

What frescoes are in the Church of San Martino dei Gualdesi?

Recorded are 15th-16th-century frescoes of the Umbrian school, attributed to Paolo da Visso and Paolo Bontulli da Percanestro. They include a Sunday Christ on the right wall and a large Saint Christopher in the area of the ciborium. After the 2016 damage, however, it is unclear how much can be seen today.

What can you see near the Church of San Martino dei Gualdesi?

A short distance away are the monastery of San Liberatore, to the north, and the church of San Sebastiano, to the south. Along the same route through the village are also the church of Santo Stefano and porta Nocrina.

Nearby

Straight-line distances.