Church of Santa Maria dei Franconi

Veroli. Church of Santa Maria dei Franconi  

The church of Santa Maria dei Franconi in Veroli dates back to the 13th century.

It was built over the 11th century oratory of Sant'Onofrio, a place with two areas bounded by 6 columns.

The building then became an integral part of a monastery of Benedictine nuns founded in 1580.

Like all buildings in Veroli it was damaged by the earthquake of 1350 and rebuilt with parts that have different styles.

The lower part of the façade is in Romanesque style and in the fabric of the stones we recognize the closing of openings near the entrance door.

The interior of the church dates back to the seventeenth century and there is a 1674 fresco of a Crucifixion with the background of the city of Veroli, in the inner part of the portal, and other seventeenth century frescoes in the chapels.

The church bears witness to the presence of the Order of the Templars in Veroli both for the name (Franconi is one of the names with which the Templars were called) and for some Croci Patenti (Mantova Cross) engraved in two of the entrance pillars.

Symbols of crosses and roses that intersect recall the movement of the Rosicrucians.


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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