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Church of St Catherine in Trevignano Romano: horses, frescoes, and an abbot to remember
The Church of Santa Caterina in Trevignano Romano is tucked away behind the town hall, just a few steps from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele III. Small and unassuming, it's a place the town is deeply attached to. Probably built between the 14th and 15th centuries, it stands on top of a Roman-era building, possibly an ancient temple.
What's inside
The interior is a single nave with two side chapels. The main altar features an apsidal fresco depicting the Virgin with St Sebastian and St Roch. In the left chapel is the funerary monument of Abbot Tommaso Silvestri, the first educator of the deaf, who was born and died in Trevignano in the 18th century. Pope John Paul II visited his tomb in September 1986 — 200 years after his death.
Horses and riders on the last Sunday of January
The statue of St Anthony Abbot, patron of animals, is preserved in the chapel on the right. Every year, on the last Sunday of January, the statue is carried out in procession. Hundreds of riders come from all the towns around Lake Bracciano and ride through the village to receive the blessing.
How to get there
From Piazza Vittorio Emanuele III, enter the old town by passing under the Clock Tower. Walk along Via Umberto I and after a short stroll, you'll find a small square on your right and a lane climbing uphill. Two olive trees at the entrance confirm you're in the right place.
