Small Temple of Sant'Emidio Rosso (Ascoli Piceno)

History of the Small Temple of Sant'Emidio Rosso

The tempietto began as an enlargement of a votive shrine that for centuries had protected the stone of the beheading. The people of Ascoli called it "la cona de Santo Migno". In the 16th century the canons of the cathedral became its custodians. In 1562 they fitted the shrine with a grille, a floor and plaster. Between 1592 and 1594 they carried out further work there.

The present building dates from the 17th century and is linked to Bishop Sigismondo Donati da Correggio. An inscription on the portal records that he built it and dedicated it to the saint at the place of martyrdom. The designer remains uncertain: some historians name Fulgenzio Morelli, but the question is still open.

What to see in the Small Temple of Sant'Emidio Rosso

Outside, the octagonal plan, the windows and the smooth travertine base stand out. The interior is plain and has a single altar. Under the altar is the stone on which, according to tradition, Sant'Emidio laid his head. Above the altar hangs a canvas of the Beheading of Sant'Emidio, framed by a painted trompe-l'oeil altarpiece in the 18th-century Ascoli manner.

How to visit the Small Temple of Sant'Emidio Rosso

The tempietto is a place of worship deeply felt by the local population. For this reason it is easy to find it open and attended by people from Ascoli. The space is that of a small church, so a visit takes little time and should be made with the respect due to a place of prayer. The tempietto makes a good stop during a walk around the city at any time of year.

Where the Small Temple of Sant'Emidio Rosso is

The tempietto stands in the Porta Solestà district of Ascoli Piceno, outside the old walls. It is a short distance from the Roman bridge and the fountain of Sant'Emidio. Coming from the center, it appears shortly after the Roman bridge of Porta Solestà.

Around the Small Temple of Sant'Emidio Rosso

Near the tempietto is the fountain of Sant'Emidio, now a 16th-century public washhouse with five arches. According to tradition, the saint made the water gush out by striking the rock. The route dedicated to the patron saint continues to the Small Temple of Sant'Emidio alle Grotte. It is a Baroque building set against the caves of the ancient Christian necropolis. The saint's remains are instead in the crypt of the Cathedral of Sant'Emidio. For more sights in the city, see the page on things to do in Ascoli Piceno.