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COLLE D'ARQUATA DEL TRONTO Coordinates: Latitude N Longitude E Altitude: 1115 m above sea level Inhabitants: Telephone code: 0736 Postcode: 63096 Position: Place name: It is the highest town of the territory in the entire municipality. Places of interest: Among the buildings of greater historical interest is: 1. CHURCH OF SAINT SYLVESTER The church stands 800 metres from Colle on a spur of sandstone rock. Much of the structure is of Renaissance origin. From recent conservation work carried out on paintings there it has been possible to establish that all the lower part below the large frescoes dates from the XIV century. The Renaissance construction was adapted to the pre-existing structure and it was only in the following epoch that it reached its current dimensions. The church, dedicated to Pope Sylvester I, has a square floor plan with three naves and a rectangular apse. The fresco on the wall of the presbytery consists of an image of Pope Sylvester sitting in the centre in his pontifical robes and accompanied by a group of saints which, starting from the left, features Our Lady, Saint Catherine, Saint Peter and Saint Paul. A crucifix is portrayed on the central tympanum. The work is attributed to Dionisio Cappelli, a painter from Amatrice and the master of Cola dell’Amatrice. There were 15 figures originally; including Saint Amico with a hatchet on his shoulder and a wolf laden with firewood on a halter. The painting was part of a series of another 4 or 5 smaller figures situated on the left-hand side of the altar, which are now lost. Under the central figure there is the following inscription: “"…..questa facciata affatta pengnere don Vincevo Maffa de Calabria rettore de dea eclesia 1511…”The church was provided with three burial pits: one was situated beneath the statue of Saint Antonio, another along the end wall of the sacristy and the third was in the right-hand apse. This type of burial took place until the law made it obligatory to bury the dead in a cemetery. CHURCH OF SAINT SEBASTIAN
Located in the centre of the town and dating back to 1500. Documented information traces back to 1573, the year in which the church is mentioned as an oratory in Collis Arquati. In 1580 it was named Villa Collis Bassae and measured 6 steps by 3. It had just one bell. On the left there is an urn, a small Renaissance-style monument in sandstone, incorporated into the wall. A dedication in the lower part of the burial plaque is dated 1620.The urn comes from the church of Santa Maria of Chiarino. In a sculpted stone niche set into the wall on the right-hand side of the altar can be read: Paolo Santolini 1721. CHURCH OF SAINT AMICO OR MADONNA DEL DIVINO AMORE The chapel was inaugurated on August 30th 1933. It was built on the summit of an enormous inclined slab of sandstone called the fortress and could only be reached on foot. Tradition had it that it was the place where Saint Amico knelt to pray. Until some years ago, the liturgical function to mark the anniversary of Saint Rita on May 22nd was still celebrated in the church.
CHURCH OF SAINT MICHELE ARCANGELO OR CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA CHIARINO It appears that Saint Amico d’Avellana (X-XI century) led his hermit life in the lands of Umbria-Marche and settled on a high plain at about 1500 m. called Fonte Santa Maria Chiarino. The remains of a chapel, in the form of a pile of stones crowned by a little cross, can still be seen in the area surrounding the spring.Then, in 1200 some Franciscan friars belonging to the Spirituali della Marca erected a small retreat in the same place, dedicating it to Santa Maria Chiarino. However, there is no certain information that the ruins of the church of Santa Maria Chiarino are the same ones consecrated to San Michele Arcangelo.Given its proximity to the Clareno stream, Brother Angelo of Fossombrone added Clareno to his name and became the founder of a new religious order that took the name of the Claretana congregation. This brotherhood had several convents until 1768 when, by pontifical decree, it was absorbed by the Franciscans.Today hardly any trace remains of the old retreat and chapel. The hermits enlarged the small chapel and dedicated it to Saint Maria Chiarino. It is certain that at the end of the XVI century it was still officiated, since it is mentioned and included in the inventory of the Visit of the Bishop of Aragona. A statue of Holy Mary, shown sitting with the Infant Jesus on her lap, was venerated there. It was in terracotta and papier-mâché, modelled by the Madonna makers of Abruzzo following the style of the time.At the end of XVIII century the place was falling into ruin and the statue was taken to the church of Saint Sylvester a Colle and re-housed in a niche in the left-hand nave.According to popular tradition this effigy disappeared several times from its new resting place, only to be found in the chapel in the mountains. This continued until a small window was made facing in the direction of the Church of Santa Maria Chiarino.Bibliography:
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