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Church of Santa Maria in Via in Camerino

Church of Santa Maria in Via in Camerino
Photo: Dirillo / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Church of Santa Maria in Via in Camerino

Type
Church
Address
Piazza Umberto 1°Camerino (MC)

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

The Church of Santa Maria in Via (Chiesa di Santa Maria in Via) is a Baroque church in Camerino, in the province of Macerata. It was designed by Andrea Sacchi at the behest of Cardinal Angelo Giori and consecrated in 1654. It has an elliptical plan with four semicircular chapels and once held the icon of the Madonna and Child attributed to the Master of Camerino. The 2016 earthquake severely damaged it: the bell tower collapsed in the tremor of October 26.

Church of Santa Maria in Via in Camerino
Photo: Diego Baglieri / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

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On the map

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

History of the Church of Santa Maria in Via

A place of worship with this name already existed in Camerino at the end of the 13th century: the earliest records are in the Rationes decimarum of 1299 and in a will of 1341. Between 1639 and 1642 Cardinal Giori bought the small oratory and made it the site of the new church. In 1643 he also bought the icon of the Madonna and Child. The design was entrusted to Andrea Sacchi.

The 1799 earthquake brought down the original brick ceiling, which was replaced by a truss roof. The interior was completed only in 1896. The 1997 earthquake damaged it again, and the church reopened for worship in September 2006.

What to see in the Church of Santa Maria in Via

The exterior is in brick, with some sandstone elements. The elliptical interior has a deep apsed presbytery and polychrome faux marble in scagliola. The ceiling of the nave was frescoed by Giuseppe Rinaldi, known as lo Spazza, with the Life and Mysteries of Mary. The presbytery is the work of Orazio Orazi.

Works by important artists are linked to the church. The first chapel on the right has paintings by Andrea Sacchi. The second holds a copy of Guido Reni's altarpiece of Saint Michael the Archangel. The sacristy houses two canvases by Valentin de Boulogne. In the right-hand chapel is the papier-mâché crucifix with which, in 1750, Saint Paul of the Cross blessed the people of Camerino.

Visiting the Church of Santa Maria in Via

Since the 2016 damage the church has been unusable. The facade has been made safe and is the only part that can be admired. Before going, it is best to ask about the progress of the work and access to this part of the historic center.

The icon of the Madonna of Santa Maria in Via, rescued from the church, holds a prominent place in the Diocesan Museum of Camerino. The museum reopened in the Palazzo Arcivescovile after the earthquake.

Where the Church of Santa Maria in Via is located

The church stands in the historic center of Camerino, in the Marche region.

Around the Church of Santa Maria in Via

The Cathedral of the Santissima Annunziata is about 580 m away. It is the subject of a restoration project that should return it to the community. About 1 km away is the Basilica of San Venanzio in Camerino. Other sacred buildings in the area are on the page about the churches of the Sibillini Mountains.

Frequently asked questions

Can the Church of Santa Maria in Via in Camerino be visited?

The building was severely damaged by the 2016 earthquake. Only the facade, visible from outside, has been made safe. Before traveling to Camerino, it is best to check whether the interior has reopened and whether the area is accessible.

Who designed the Church of Santa Maria in Via?

Cardinal Angelo Giori commissioned the design from Andrea Sacchi. The church was built where a small oratory stood, bought by the cardinal between 1639 and 1642, and was consecrated in 1654. It has an elliptical plan with four semicircular chapels.

Where is the icon of the Madonna of Santa Maria in Via today?

The icon, a Madonna and Child attributed to the Master of Camerino, was rescued from the damaged church. It is part of the route of the Museo Diocesano di Camerino, reopened in the Palazzo Arcivescovile after the 2016 earthquake, which devotes an in-depth display to it.

What damage did the church suffer in earthquakes?

The 1799 earthquake brought down the brick ceiling. The 1997 earthquake damaged it, and the church reopened in September 2006. In 2016 the tremor of October 26 brought the bell tower down onto a nearby building, and the church suffered severe damage.

Nearby

What to see nearby

Where to eat

Straight-line distances.