Castiglione in Teverina. Church of Our Lady of the Snows

Castiglione in Teverina. Church of Our Lady of the Snows

The country church of Our Lady of the Snows was built by Alexander VI at the beginning of the sixteenth century and is famous for the original ritual that took place in the past.

The building has a simple façade embellished with a lunette with hand-painted tiles representing Our Lady of the Snows.

The interior has a single nave and above the high altar is a fresco with the miraculous image of the Madonna and Child with a shovel in her arms.

The building is part of an old house where in the past various Hermits lived.

The image was realised in 1400s, an abandoned fund was found and the population erected a church where they could worship this image.

The church was authorized by Pope Alexander VI and inaugurated in 1509.

The name comes from the road leading to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.

A curious note is that some citizens began to ask 'Thanks to the Contrary' that is preying for evil spells and woes for their enemies.

Our Lady of the Snows is celebrated every August 5 with a rich lunch and a palio that was down-sized by the bishop in 1699 for the excesses of the citizens.


Written by:
Benedicta Lee

Born in Rome from an Italian mother and American father, she works as a freelance communications manager and designer in the tourism sector, a career and interest which she is pursuing with a...

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