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Church of Saint James in Fara in Sabina: comfort for the condemned
In Fara in Sabina, a charming medieval village in the province of Rieti, a small Baroque church with a remarkable history stands alongside Palazzo Manfredi. This is the Church of St James in Fara in Sabina. The uniqueness of this church — which from 1619 served as the seat of the Confraternita della Misericordia (Brotherhood of Mercy) — lies not only in its works of art, but also its deep connection with the ancient prison cells beneath the palace.
An interior rich in meaning
The current single-nave layout was devised by the Brotherhood when it took possession of the church in the 17th century. Upon entering, one’s gaze is drawn upward to the 18th-century wooden choir loft, which once housed an organ. One’s attention then falls on the main altar, where a canvas attributed to the Roman school depicts the “Decollazione di San Giovanni Battista” (Beheading of Saint John the Baptist). The choice is no coincidence. Saint John was the saint to whom condemned prisoners from the nearby palace turned before facing their final destiny in the square outside - today's Piazza Garibaldi, once known as Piazza Forcina.
The pilgrim's shell
Above the right altar hangs a painting of Saint James, featuring a scallop shell at his heart, the enduring symbol of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
The church has no fixed opening hours. Visits are generally possible on request by contacting the Municipal Tourist Office, or during specific cultural events. Admission is free.
