A tree-lined avenue, meadows to your right and to your left, at the end of the road you see a bell tower rise: you are in Vescovio! Roughly ten km from Cicignano, in the heart of Sabina and in the municipality of Torri, is the Church of Santa Maria della Lode di Vescovio and its Sanctuary; definitely one of the most iconic places of the Sabina territory.
Forum Novum
Forum Novum is a place immersed in the Sabine countryside, where once stood the ancient Roman city of Forum Novum. Also ideal for a picnic on sunny days.
The area has been the subject of archaeological excavations since the late 1990s. Here, the excavations area is still clearly visible, albeit fenced. The investigations led to an understanding of the function of Forum Novum, which was not an actual inhabited centre. Rather, a set of public buildings: a civil basilica, a temple complex dedicated perhaps to Hercules, the forum, an amphitheatre, the baths, the market, a series of tabernae, an aqueduct and a public fountain.
At the end of the fourth century it seems that the Church of Santa Maria was placed side by side these buildings, although in a primitive state compared to its current features.
The decline of the Roman Empire also led to the decline of Forum Novum and its function. Thus, this centre was progressively abandoned and only the Church remained standing, like a cathedral in the “desert” of the Sabine countryside.
A little history of the Church of Santa Maria di Vescovio
The church of Santa Maria di Vescovio is also called the “Cathedral of Sabina”, for having actually held this role until 1495, when the bishop’s seat was moved to Magliano by Pope Alexander VI. The Sanctuary of Vescovio can without a doubt be considered the oldest centre of Sabina’s religious history, since the construction of the Church dates back to the fourth century.
The building of the Church is in full Romanesque style and standing out, even from afar, is the elegant bell tower with a square plan of 5 orders, enriched with two and three mullioned windows.
The interior of the Church as well maintains the sober style characterized by the entire building on the outside. The Church is a single nave and embellishing it in its simplicity are only the numerous frescoes on the walls dating back to the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, which show scenes from the Old and New Testaments and an imposing Universal Judgment. The frescoes are attributed to the Cavallinian school, among the best known in the Roman context.
The visit to the church of Santa Maria in Vescovio can be completed by discovering the eleventh century crypt, which can be accessed through two doors found in the presbytery.
Despite not having the fame of the more famous Abbey of Farfa or the Sanctuaries of the Holy Valley dedicated to Saint Frances (Greccio, Fonte Colombo, La Foresta and Poggio Bustone), the Sanctuary of Vescovio is worth a visit for the historical importance it has had and for its artistic peculiarity.
We recommend that you combine your visit to Vescovio with that of the nearby village of Rocchette and the abandoned castle of Rocchettine, two other Sabine places full of charm. However, we will never tire of saying that all the Sabina area is definitely worth a visit, even just for the landscape that awaits you and for being a renowned territory which, still to this day, is dedicated to cultivating olive trees and producing extra virgin olive oil.
