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Statue of St Thomas in Roccasecca: the marble angel you wouldn't expect
At the entrance to Roccasecca, before climbing up to the village, stands the Statue of St Thomas. This marble work by sculptor Giuliano Vangi is a slender figure, almost angel-like, soaring skywards. It is a modern landmark, placed at the very start of the Tracciolino, the road that winds its way to the spectacular Melfa Gorges.
The work of a master
World-renowned sculptor Giuliano Vangi unveiled the sculpture in 2005. It stands almost ten metres tall, and is made from Coreno marble, the local stone. The choice to portray the saint as a slender, almost winged figure was entirely deliberate — a clear break from the traditional image of the austere thinker. The result is a modern and powerful interpretation.
The story of its location
But it was never meant to be placed here. The original project placed it much higher up, near the Church of St Thomas, at the foot of Monte Asprano, overlooking the Valle del Liri. In the end, the decision was made to position it at the entrance to the village. It has since become the symbolic gateway to the historic centre and to the Tracciolino nature trail.
The statue is an outdoor public monument.
