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The Church of St Anthony Abbot in Maenza: the Romanesque Church where Animals are Blessed
The Church of Sant'Antonio Abate is located in the historic centre of Maenza, a village in the Lepini Mountains 320 metres above sea level. The building dates from the 12th century, built in Romanesque style when the town was a fief of the Counts of Ceccano. The church served the artisan quarter, inhabited by blacksmiths, shoemakers and farmers, who venerated St Anthony as protector of domestic animals and manual labour. The façade preserves the original portal in limestone with a round arch.
The Interior and the Frescoes
The structure has a single nave with a semicircular apse. On the side walls there are traces of 14th-century frescoes: figures of saints and scenes from the life of St Anthony Abbot can be recognised, even though much damaged by time and damp. The wooden truss ceiling is a 17th-century reconstruction. The high altar houses a wooden statue of the saint from the 15th century, carried in procession during the patronal festival.
The Blessing of the Animals
Every year, on 17 January, the feast of St Anthony Abbot is celebrated. with the traditional blessing of the animals in the churchyard. This tradition is documented from the Middle Ages, when livestock farmers brought oxen, horses and mules to the sanctuary to receive the saint's protection. Today the ceremony also involves dogs, cats and other pets. After the blessing, blessed bread rolls are distributed in the village, locally called "pagnottelle".
