There are places where nature and man’s constructions merge creating a harmonious relaxing atmosphere of peace. The Sanctuary of Macereto rises on a plateau about 1000 meters above sea level. This area of the Monti Sibillini National Park offers enchanting landscapes made of soft ups and downs framed by sharp rocky peaks. The Sanctuary, a national monument since 1902, the greatest expression of Renaissance architecture in the Marche region, integrates perfectly in this scenario. It was built in 1529, on the place of a previous small church of 1359, by Giovan Battista da Lugano probably on a project by Bramante and finished later in 1556 under the guidance of Filippo Salvi da Bissone.
On the outside the Sanctuary has an octagonal plan, covered in travertine with avant-corps on three sides on which the three entrances of the church open and with sculptures that enrich the portals and the capitals.
Inside the structure is distributed on a Greek cross plan, with the four arms ending in four apses with niches.
niches. In the centre is the primitive chapel with the Latin inscription recalling the story of the miracle of Macereto.
In the apse of the high altar it is possible to admire the beautiful chapel where there are some works of the painter and sculptor native of Caldarola, Simone de Magistris, dating back to 1580-1582 as the Christmas of Jesus, the Adoration of the Magi, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Circumcision, the Nativity of the Madonna and the Flight into Egypt.
