Prossedi . Church of St. Nicholas

Prossedi . Church of St. Nicholas

The church of St. Nicholas in Prossedi dates from the thirteenth century and is the oldest in town. It is in Romanesque style and for years had been abandoned and used as a stable to shelter animals.

In 1900 the population with support of Prince Gabrielli found the funds to finance the restoration and in 1902 the church was reopened.

The church has a simple facade adorned by a beautiful fourteenth-century doorway framed by carved marble in Cistercian Gothic style that also protects a wooden bas-relief of St. Nicholas.

The façade is completed with a simple but elegant carved stone rose window of the fourteenth century that lets in a very attractive light.

The interior has a nave with wooden roof supported by big Gothic arches. The large altar is in a raised position, above a stone staircase with 8 steps bounded by a marble balustrade.

Among the works inside the church there is the painting of "Maria Santissima Advocate Nostra", better known as the "Madonna of Vicovaro", a town near Rome. This image is highly revered and is a copy of a picture that is located in Vicovaro.

Legend has it that in July 1863 the Virgin in the painting in Vicovaro moved her eyes and a pilgrimage began of the faithful to pay homage to the painting.

Among these faithful who went there was also Don Gaspare Olmi from Prossedi who was so affected that he commissioned a painter in Rome a copy of the painting.

The picture was exhibited in the ancient church of St. Nicholas and on 6 June 1864 also the lady of Prossedi moved her eyes in front of some young people.

The bells rang in celebration and on May 31, 1964 Pope Paul VI granted the right to place a golden crown on the image of the Madonna of Prossedi.


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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