At the end of the Valle dell'Inferno - Hell Valley where the Ronci stream flows, a tributary of the Aniene, the small church of Santa Maria del Ronci was built in the Roccagiovine area, which also had its own hermitage.
Many legends arose around the church linked to its construction but also to the transfer of a precious panel by Pastura depicting the Madonna.
The church was also at the top of one of the so-called "paths of penance" which started from the church of the Sepulcher of Vicovaro, followed the road parallel to the Ronci and arrived at the sanctuary of Santa Maria del Ronci. The paths of penance were those paths that barefoot pilgrims made to be forgiven for something they had done. Many pilgrims also came to the Madonna del Ronci from nearby Sabina especially during the first days of May on the occasion of the feast of the Madonna del Ronci and a livestock fair.
It is said that its construction dates back to the fifteenth century, but it was probably built on a previous building located in the border areas of different feuds. The story tells that it was built by a member of the Orsini family branch of Roccagiovine and Licenza to protect an image of the Madonna who had protected him one night when she was lost in the woods.
Wandering in the night he had found a lighted candle belonging to the person who kept this image and he vowed to expand the church and to give a perpetual income so that 'they could keep the light always lit'. So they assigned her a small vineyard, a chestnut grove and a piece of land.
The church was adorned with a statue of Christ in the lunette and a canvas of the Virgin and Child painted by Pastura, a pupil of Perugino.
In 1734 Roccagiovine was sold to Vincenzo Nunez who had the church of Santa Maria del Ronci restored. Then, at the end of the nineteenth century, the social dynamics changed and the church was abandoned and fell into disuse.
Legend tells of another miraculous episode which took place in 1856 during the transport of the precious panel by Pastura from Santa Maria del Ronci to the larger and more central church of San Nicola in Roccagiovine.
Santa Maria del Ronci was linked by the path of penance with Vicovaro who claimed possession of the painted panel. A group of citizens of Vicovaro tried to steal the image to bring it to their country but the pair of oxen carrying it couldn't move because suddenly the table had become very heavy. The oxen managed to carry the table if they went in the direction of Roccagiovine and in fact today it is found in the central church of Roccagiovine.
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