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The Church of St Liberatus in Cantalice: the bell of 1279 and a 14th-century fresco
One kilometre from Cantalice, the Chiesa di San Liberato (Church of St Liberatus) clings to an outcrop of porous rock. Having become a parish in the year 1600, the building holds two unexpected treasures: a 14th-century fresco of the Madonna and Child, and a bell dating from 1279, among the oldest in the Sabina region. A place that has remarkable tales to tell, just a short distance from Rieti.
The fresco behind the altar
The work is located in the right nave. Probably a product of Giotto’s school, the fresco was later enriched with stucco decorations reproducing the Santa Casa (Holy House), transforming the altar into a popular homage to Our Lady of Loreto. Beside it, an urn holds the relics of the martyr St Liberatus — an Augustinian abbot — together with those of Saints Aurelius and Felicianus.
The voice of Reate since 1279
But the true gem for connoisseurs is to be found in the bell tower. The main bell bears a clear inscription, with its place and date of casting: "REATE 1279". Reate was the ancient name for the city of Rieti. It is a detail that makes this bell a truly unique piece of history, and is dedicated to the Madonna della Grandine (Our Lady of the Hail), whose feast day is the 1st of June each year. Inside the church there is also a fine 17th-century organ that has recently been restored.
The church is generally open for religious services and patronal feast days (St Liberatus on 15th of May, Our Lady of the Hail on 1st of June). For visits outside these hours, please contact the Municipal Offices or the Pro Loco of Cantalice. Admission is free.
