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The Sanctuary of St Mary of Vallebona in Orvinio: Where the Madonna Chose to Stay
The Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Vallebona rises among the ruins of an abandoned village, a few kilometres from Orvinio, in the heart of the Lucretili Mountains. As one climbs towards the Altopiano delle Pratarelle (Pratarelle Plateau), the building appears suddenly: a sober church set among the remains of medieval towers and enclosure walls. An atmosphere that is both sacred and mysterious.
The Legend of the Shepherd
The story begins around 1643. A shepherd was scything grass among the ruins of the old castle of Vallebona when his blade struck something. He looked down and found an image of the Virgin Mary bleeding from a lip. He carried it to Orvinio, to the church of San Nicola (St Nicholas). The following morning the image had vanished: it had returned to the place where he had found it. The faithful understood the message, and gathered alms to build a church on that very spot.
The Frescoes of Vincenzo Manenti
The exterior is simple, almost a devotional chapel — hardly surprising, since it came into being solely through the offerings of the people. But inside is the work of Vincenzo Manenti, the greatest painter of the Sabina region in the 17th century, who was born in Orvinio itself. The frescoes of the apse and the side walls are his work, although sadly they have deteriorated badly. On the high altar there is still the original image of the Virgin nursing the Child. In 1727 the Madonna di Vallebona was declared the protectress of Orvinio, and every year the town climbs up here to celebrate her.
