Church of San Vittorino (Castelsantangelo sul Nera)

History of the Church of San Vittorino in Castelsantangelo sul Nera

The building has medieval origins and was built in Romanesque forms. Of that original structure, the tower-shaped bell tower and a single-lancet window on a side wall next to it remain. A pastoral visit in 1445 described it as beautiful and well adorned.

After the war the church was substantially rebuilt, at the wish of the parish priest Leone Fiorelli. The shocks of September 26, 1997 caused new damage and cracks. On August 5, 1999 the Conferenza di Servizi (services conference) gave the go-ahead for demolishing and rebuilding the damaged parts.

The 2016 earthquake struck the church before it had fully recovered from 1997. The 2016 shocks badly damaged it, to the point of partial collapse. A tender was later issued for the safety works.

What to see in the Church of San Vittorino

The complex includes the church, the bell tower on the right side and the sacristy on the opposite side. The hall is separated from the presbytery by a triumphal arch. The bell tower is the element that most directly recalls the medieval church.

Inside were an altar triptych by a pupil of Paolo da Visso, showing the Madonna and Child between Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint Stephen, and some devotional canvases from the 17th and 18th centuries. After the shocks of October 2016 the triptych ended up under about one meter of rubble. At the end of December 2016 it was recovered by the fire brigade, together with the Carabinieri cultural heritage protection unit and technicians from the Soprintendenza (heritage authority). Other sacred furnishings and some 17th-century canvases were saved along with it.

Visiting the Church of San Vittorino

The damage suffered in 2016 makes a visit to the interior uncertain. Before traveling, it is advisable to check the state of the works with the Comune di Castelsantangelo sul Nera (the town hall) or the parish. The church is a subsidiary of the parish of Santo Stefano, in the Diocese of Camerino - San Severino Marche.

Where the Church of San Vittorino is located

The church stands in Nocria, a hamlet at the edge of Castelsantangelo sul Nera, along the road leading to the Frontignano ski area. Before the earthquake, the church offered a view over the valley toward the main village.

Around the Church of San Vittorino

The municipality of Castelsantangelo sul Nera includes the source of the Nera river. In the village is the monastery of San Liberatore, inside the walls, reached by climbing up from porta Nocrina. It is one of the oldest Benedictine monasteries of the upper Nera valley. The earthquake also damaged other religious buildings in the area, so it is best to check case by case. Other places of worship in the area are collected on the page churches in the Sibillini Mountains.