Churches of the Historic Center of Montefortino

History of the churches of Montefortino's historic center

The name "Girone" recalls the fortified ring of the castle walls, which still surround the village. The fortress was dismantled in 1442-1444, but the chapel of Santa Maria del Girone was spared. The church of San Francesco stands on that core. Next to it stood the convent of the Franciscan Friars Minor, later suppressed and abandoned, which was lost during the 20th century. The church was entrusted to the Confraternity of the Most Holy Sacrament.

San Francesco is owned by the municipality. The 2016 earthquake made it unusable, and after the redevelopment work it is expected to host cultural events and initiatives promoting the area. The work was by then almost finished.

Sant'Agostino was attached to an Augustinian convent suppressed in 1654, of which only part of the portico remains.

What to see among the churches of Montefortino

Just outside the historic center, visitors can also see the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Montefortino, from 1647, with a Greek cross plan and a dome decorated with Baroque stucco. Beyond the Porta di Santa Lucia is San Francesco. The interior has a single nave with a wooden truss roof and Baroque stucco frames. It used to hold a Madonna of the Rosary by Simone De Magistris, a wooden Crucifix and a tabernacle.

Sant'Agostino has an old portal and windows with pointed arches. The pieve of San Michele Arcangelo dates from 1860 and is Neoclassical. Heading down toward the Palazzo Comunale, the visitor reaches the 18th-century church of Sant'Andrea.

Visiting the churches of Montefortino's historic center

The churches can be seen from outside along the village's terraced route. Sant'Agostino and San Francesco were closed to the public for a long time: before visiting, it is best to check whether they can be entered, especially San Francesco after the post-earthquake work.

On the third floor of Palazzo Leopardi, the Museo di arte sacra in Montefortino brings together works of various origins, including some from the churches of San Francesco, Sant'Agostino and Sant'Andrea.

Where the churches of Montefortino are located

The churches are in Montefortino. The village stands on a hill facing Monte Priora (2,332 m) and Monte Sibilla (2,173 m). The Porta Santa Lucia is the main entrance to the historic center, one of three medieval entrances. The streets climb in semicircular terraces up to the church of San Francesco, which dominates the village.

Around the churches of Montefortino's historic center

The municipality has restored part of the walls, which start from Porta Santa Lucia, and in some places the swallowtail merlons can still be seen. A few kilometers from the center is the Sanctuary of Madonna dell'Ambro, at an elevation of 658 meters. Other religious buildings in the area are on the page about the churches of the Sibillini Mountains.