Small Temple of the Madonna del Sole

History of the Small Temple of the Madonna del Sole

The little temple was built in 1528. It rose where, since 1523, there had been the shrine of the Madonna del Sole (Our Lady of the Sun), at a junction of three roads where, according to tradition, rituals in honor of the sun took place. Over time the cult of the sun was replaced by that of the Virgin. The building was commissioned by the local people. On the bell gable, the bell bears the date 1558.

On October 30, 2016, a new tremor brought down the centuries-old bell tower, but the structure of the oratory held thanks to the safety work. The village of Capodacqua, on the other hand, was almost entirely destroyed. The restoration work was completed in November 2024.

What to see at the Small Temple of the Madonna del Sole

The facade has a rose window above the portal. Carved on the stones between the archivolt and the oculus are the sun, shown as two concentric circles with rays radiating out and the IHS Christogram at the center, and the moon. The sun symbolizes the eternity of God, the moon the transience of human life.

The interior is richly frescoed. The 16th-century cycle is dedicated to the Madonna. The best known of the paintings depicts the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, in Renaissance style. Above the high altar is the painting of the “Madonna tra le nuvole” (Madonna among the clouds). It illustrates a miracle that took place during a medieval dispute over pastures between the people of Capodacqua and some men from Norcia: a thick fog blinded the men from Norcia, while Our Lady of Mount Carmel appeared to the people of Capodacqua.

How to visit the Small Temple of the Madonna del Sole

The keys to the temple were handed back to the community in November 2024. The feast of the Madonna del Sole includes a solemn Mass with the display of the ancient relics. Before setting out, it is worth checking access conditions with the Comune di Arquata del Tronto.

Where the Small Temple of the Madonna del Sole is in Arquata del Tronto

The temple stands in Capodacqua, at about 880 m above sea level and about 8 km from Arquata del Tronto. The hamlet's territory borders Umbria and Lazio.

Around the Small Temple of the Madonna del Sole

The European long-distance path E1 passes through Capodacqua. Along the Fosso di Capodacqua stream stand a water mill with the inscription “Restaurato 1907” (Restored 1907) and an early 20th-century hydroelectric plant, badly damaged by the 2016 earthquake. In the main town is the Church of Santi Pietro e Paolo in Arquata del Tronto. Other places of worship in the area are on the page about the churches of the Sibillini Mountains.