The San Sebastian Church in Acuto is dedicated to Saints Sebastian and Rocco and was built around the twelfth century, to ward off disease, famine and plague epidemics.
St. Rocco is the patron saint of lepers and in almost every village there is a church dedicated to him and pictures of him with his dog. San Rocco was born in France in 1350 by very elderly parents of an ancient lineage and his history recalls that of San Francesco.
On the death of his parents he gave all his possessions to go on a pilgrimage to Rome precisely during the period of the great Black Death that killed a third of Europe's population.
With his blessing and a sign of the cross, San Rocco healed many people, including even a cardinal of the Pope's court.
On his return trip from Rome, San Rocco became ill with the plague near Piacenza and retired to a cave where a dog every day brought him a piece of bread with which to feed themselves.
Once healed, the Saint returned to his task of tending the sick and many followed his example.
The splendid frescoes of Acuto church were painted between 1528 and 1550, probably as a votive offering.
In the background of one of these frescoes you can recognize the profile of a town, probably the same Acuto, as it appeared more than 500 years ago.
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