Rural churches

Places of worship play an important role in the history of settlements in the Piceno.
We suggest a small "taste" of rural churches, which are outside the classic destinations of important churches. They are in our immediate vicinity and we deserve to be visited.

Between Ripatransone and Cossignano on the "Cuprense" road, we find the church of Our Lady of Mount Caramel. The late Renaissance portal built in sandstone by M. Ventura is dated 1569. The interior has three naves divided by eight arches. Besides the font of marble in 1615, there are works by painters Caldarola, Simone and Giovanni Francesco De Magistris, including the altarpiece of the Deposition from the Cross of Jesus, which is the best preserved.

On the "cuprense" road that leads from Ripatransone to Grottammare, you'll find the church sanctuary of Santa Maria della Petrella, a real complex with porch (later closed)  a place of rest for the pilgrims and passing guests. The origin of the whole structure dates back to 1400. Inside there are several cycles of paintings, dating back to 1403.

In Offida, contrada Tesino, the small rural church of San Venancio is located , with a gabled facade and a small steeple on an axis with the entrance portal from the XVII-XVIII century.
The church of St. Philip in Offida, contrada Ciafone, consists of a country church and a rectory. Work began in 1791, and was terminated in 1805; it was designed by the Swiss architect Pietro Maggi. The interior has all the stylistic features of neoclassical architecture.

In contrada Tredico, between Moresco and Monterubbiano the church of Santa Maria dell'Olmo stands completely isolated. The structure is the result of a transformation of an earlier shrine. Inside, above the altar is a fresco depicting the scene of the Crucifixion, by Vincenzo Pagani. The foreground characters are surrounded by the classic landscape of the Marches: a marina with sailboats with triangular sails on which rolling hills are depicted.
In Monterubbiano we find the suburban church of SS. Crucifix placed outside Porta Sant'Andrea (towards Petritoli). It was erected in 1590 in Baroque style with a Latin cross plan. You go in through the front door of travertine, but the architectural grandeur of the installation is the continuous porch that wraps all three sides. The frescoes on the high altar date back to 1591 and are attributed to John Colucci of Santa Vittoria; on the sides works (paintings and two canvases) by Martin Bonfini of Patrignone dated 1639.

(references taken from www.museipiceni.it)