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The Church of St Anthony Abbot in Poggio Catino: from Franciscan friary to nursery school
The Church of Sant'Antonio Abate in Poggio Catino, in the province of Rieti, dates back to the late 16th century, built alongside a small Franciscan friary (cenobium). The religious house was suppressed by a papal Brief in 1774, only to be reopened by the Redemptorists in 1785. Its definitive closure came in 1809, marking the end of the monastic presence on the site.
The village nursery school
In 1926, on top of the ruins of the friary, Professor Umberto Biraghi commissioned the construction of a nursery school. In 1943, the building was donated to the Ente Comunale di Assistenza (Municipal Welfare Board) under one strict condition: it was to be used as a nursery school in perpetuity.
The cistern and surviving structures
On 17 May 1602, the Municipality donated the cistern located in the square in front to the church. Entry points are still visible at the beginning of Via Moricone. This is a subtle, hidden detail. The church is still classified as a "sacred and public building", and stands as the only part of the original complex to retain its historical function.
