Chiesa di Santa Maria di Centurelli, Renaissance church in Caporciano, Italy.
Chiesa di Santa Maria di Centurelli is a Renaissance church in Caporciano with a simple facade divided by pilasters and a 1558 portal. The Latin-cross interior has a single nave and two side chapels; three monofore on each flank and one in the polygonal apse light the space. A porch on the right side, with square pillars and round arches, likely sheltered shepherds.
The present church was built from 1502, after a miracle, to 1561, on the remains of the medieval Santa Maria in Coronula of the Frati della Cintura. In 1560 the Celestines, holding jurisdiction over Caporciano, signed an agreement with the Deputati della Fabbrica di San Pietro in Rome and placed their coats of arms on the facade, portal and main altar. Abandoned by 1877, it was closed for worship in 1905 and definitively in 1935; it now belongs to the municipality of Caporciano.
The church served as a gathering point for shepherds traveling along the traditional migration routes, reflecting how religious buildings were woven into daily pastoral life. The site shows the connection between spiritual spaces and the rhythms of regional communities.
The church is accessible from Strada Statale 17 and is managed by the Caporciano municipality. The rural location means visitors should plan their visit carefully, as the site is not served by regular public transport.
The side portal mirrors the design of the main entrance, showing uncommon symmetry for a small rural church. A dedicated porch sheltered shepherds as they passed through on their long seasonal journeys.
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