Church of San Giacomo Apostolo (Ascoli Piceno)

History of the Church of San Giacomo Apostolo

The church was built after 1250 with local travertine, the stone that defines most of the buildings in the historic center. The two portals and the bell tower, which links it to the nearby noble towers and bell towers, were probably added as early as the beginning of the 14th century.

A restoration begun in 1935 returned the apse to its original position. In those years a strange underground room was also discovered, with a door and a gabled roof. The 2016/2017 earthquake damaged the building, which was then consolidated in all its structural parts, from the wooden roofs to the walls and vaults. The church lies along the pilgrims' route and in the past was also a parish church.

What to see in the Church of San Giacomo Apostolo

The facade opens with a rose window made of twelve small columns, topped by five majolica bowls set in a cross. The portals have twisted columns, frames with floral friezes and lunettes carved in high relief. The lunette of the left side portal shows the Madonna with San Giacomo and San Giovanni. Four doors open on the two long sides: two small ones toward the presbytery and two larger ones for the congregation.

The interior has a single nave divided into four spaces. The frescoes date from the 14th century: some are by unknown artists, others are attributed to the Maestro di Offida. During the recent work the frescoes were restored and the travertine portals cleaned. The church also holds a replica of the Lourdes grotto.

Visiting the Church of San Giacomo Apostolo

The church welcomed worshippers again in October 2024, after the post-earthquake restoration. It belongs to the parish of San Pietro Martire. For opening hours, it is best to ask the parish. As it is a place of worship, it is best to avoid visiting during services.

Where the Church of San Giacomo Apostolo is

The church stands in the slargo della Fortuna, right in the historic center, in the Corso di Sotto area. It occupies an isolated small square at the end of via dei Soderini.

Around the Church of San Giacomo Apostolo

The building is surrounded by historic palazzi and medieval towers. To continue the visit, a natural comparison is the Church of Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio (Ascoli Piceno), whose portals are as admired as those of San Giacomo. More stops are on the page about things to do in Ascoli Piceno.