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Church of St Remigius in Formia: the private chapel and the drawings of Pasquale Mattej
In the district of San Remigio, along the Appian Way (via Appia) heading towards Rome, there is a small church dating back to 1490 that most locals have never seen from the inside. It is private property, and has been for most of its history. Before the Patroni Griffi family, it belonged to the Gattola family of Gaeta and the Albito Piccolomini Knights. Knight Filippo Albito Piccolomini is buried in the sacristy alongside his consort Teresa Postiglione. According to tradition, he is the donor (patron) depicted in the altar painting, with San Remigio (St Remigius) placing a hand upon his head.
A church that evolved over time
Built in 1490, San Remigio was remodelled in 1750, with the introduction of lunette vaults (or groin vaults with lunettes), a new altar, and a reconstructed façade. Traces of floral frescoes remain on the walls. On the altar, next to the painting, lies the reliquary containing the saint's relic. According to local tradition, until the mid-19th century, a Lenten procession departed from Formia to reach Gaeta, passing directly in front of the church and connecting the faithful to the famous Montagna Spaccata (Split Mountain).
Mattej’s drawings
The church appears in several drawings by Pasquale Mattej (1813-1879), a painter, draftsman, and scholar from Formia belonging to the School of Posillipo. According to local accounts, his manuscripts remain a precious point of reference when reconstructing the ancient topography of Formia.
