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The former church of St Geoerge in Paganico Sabino: from sacred place to town hall
The former church of San Giorgio is located in Paganico Sabino, a small municipality of 166 inhabitants in the province of Rieti, in the heart of the Sabina region. Built around the mid-18th century just outside the town centre, it stands near a road junction that connected the valley to the farmsteads scattered on the hillside. Today it serves as the town hall, and the various renovations have changed its appearance so much that it no longer looks like a church.
Among the bishops' records
In 1713, Bishop Guinigi visited all the churches in the town, but made no mention of the church of San Giorgio. It was Bishop De Vita, over fifty years later, who recorded it for the first time as "extra et prope oppidum" — outside and near the village. In the Gregorian Cadastre of 1819, it appears on the map as expected, its strategic position confirmed.
When the municipality took over the church
As early as 1825–1826, Bishop Ascenzi noted that the painting of St Geoerge on the main altar was unusable. But the real problem came from the municipal authorities: between 1877 and 1887, during the visits of Bishop Mauri, it was discovered that the municipal government had occupied part of the building and used it as its administrative office. Shortly after, once restored, the church found itself hosting the music school, and today it serves as the town hall.
