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Church of St Mary of the Lily in Greccio: hidden artistic treasures in the heart of the village square
The Church of Madonna del Giglio (St Mary of the Lily), located in the main square of Greccio, is a high concentration of Baroque art in the Valle Santa (Holy Valley). For those wondering what there is to see in Greccio beyond the famous sanctuary, this is a central point of interest. Its elegant façade, restored in 2006 thanks to the funding of a local family, leads into a single-nave interior which, though currently inaccessible, houses a number of remarkable works.
A dialogue between artists
Inside, the high altar is dominated by a 15th-century tondo depicting the Virgin and Child, the work of an anonymous Umbrian artist. The left side altar houses a canvas depicting the Adoration of the Shepherds, attributed to the great painter Carlo Maratta. On the right is an altarpiece made by B. Raoni in 1784. A real dialogue between artists across the centuries.
A Franciscan story from Rome
The story of Greccio, closely tied up with St Francis, resurfaces in another artwork. Near the presbytery a large 19th-century canvas depicts the martyrdom of a group of Franciscan missionaries in Morocco. Its history is remarkable: not many people know that this work, by the painter Zoffoli, comes directly from the Missionary Museum of San Giovanni in Laterano (St John in Lateran) in Rome.
The church is currently closed to the public due to ongoing restoration works following the 2016 earthquake. Visitors are advised to check the progress of these works on the website of the Municipality (Comune) of Greccio or the local Pro Loco for information on its future reopening. The church is located in Piazza Roma, in the historic centre of the village.
