Church of San Martino (Preci)

History of the Church of San Martino in Preci

The church was founded in the 10th century on the so-called solo lateranense, the land that had belonged to the first castle of Abeto and that, by order of the Papacy, had to host a church. The tower-shaped bell tower was built later. The building was restored and rebuilt several times and eventually took on a Neoclassical style.

Its history follows that of Abeto, struck by earthquakes several times over the centuries. The village was also damaged by the earthquakes of 1979, 1997 and 2016.

What to see at the Church of San Martino

At the start of the access stairway stands the Roman funerary stone with an inscription. Of the building, the Neoclassical layout and the tower-shaped bell tower can be recognized. The restoration works also cover the entrance portico, the apse, the sacristy and the light vaults.

Visiting the Church of San Martino in Preci

Post-earthquake reconstruction of the church is under way. In June 2024 the permanent services conference approved the restoration and seismic improvement project, funded with 1.3 million euros. The implementing body is the Archdiocese of Spoleto-Norcia.

The work includes rebuilding the roof slab and consolidating the masonry of the apse and sacristy. It also includes strengthening the bell tower and consolidating the vaults and portico. A 2025 update lists it as a site under construction. Before traveling to Abeto, it is advisable to check on accessibility.

Where the Church of San Martino is located

The church stands in Abeto, a hamlet of the municipality of Preci, in the Umbrian part of the Sibillini. It is reached by a stairway that starts near the Roman stone.

Around the Church of San Martino

Abeto stands out from the other villages in the Preci area for its many Neoclassical mansions, the result of its expansion in the 18th century. At the entrance to the village, in piazza Cesqui, is the memorial to the fallen of the two world wars. In the lower part of the village lie the ruins of the old settlement. In 2025 the church of Santa Maria di Abeto was also the subject of a post-earthquake building site. Other places of worship in the area are collected on the page about churches in the Sibillini Mountains.