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Church and Convent of St Nicholas in Belmonte in Sabina: Eight Centuries of Friars and Frescoes
The Church and Convent of San Nicola stand on a hill covered with poplars and conifers, just outside Belmonte in Sabina, in the province of Rieti. The complex, which has remained untouched for centuries, has been documented since 1153, and is among the oldest Franciscan settlements in the Sabina region. You can reach it via an uphill tree-lined path. The setting alone is worth the walk.
The friars and the public auction
In the 13th century, the Friars Minor settled in the convent. In 1573, a cloister was added and the Conventual friars returned. The friars left around 1860, and the complex was shut down. The municipality tried to turn it into a school, but the costs were too high, and in 1872 the convent was put up for auction.
Inside the church
The single nave has a truss roof and four side chapels. On the right wall there is a fresco depicting the Virgin and Child flanked by the young St John, St Nicholas, and St Francis. On the left is a Crucifixion, depicting the same saints. There is also a 17th-century wooden statue of St Francis, a terracotta holy water font, and a bronze bell with a wooden support.
The convent today
After decades of neglect, the Centro di Conservazione Archeologica (Archaeological Conservation Centre) restored the building, and made it its operational headquarters. The former monks' cells have become restoration workshops and a guesthouse. The complex is about 70 km from Rome.
