Santa Maria della Rocca, Gothic church in Offida, Italy
Santa Maria della Rocca is a Gothic church in Offida featuring pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and a square bell tower crowned with an octagonal pyramid cusp. The building rises on a hillside and displays the soaring vertical lines typical of Gothic design.
Benedictine monks began constructing the present structure in 1330, demolishing portions of the earlier church to build a larger religious complex. This transformation reflected the expansion of religious architecture in the region during the medieval period.
The crypt displays medieval frescoes created by the Master of Offida, showing multiple saints with a repurposed funeral urn serving as a holy-water basin.
The church sits on a hilltop and is accessible from several points in Offida with clear directional signs. Visitors can explore the building and enjoy views of the surrounding area from its elevated position.
Excavations in 1972 uncovered lead plates bearing inscriptions referencing Wburga and Retrude, linking the site to its original 11th-century donor Longino d'Azone. These discoveries offer rare glimpses into the place's origins and early patronage.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
