The Church of San Vittorino

A few meters  from the famous Terme di Cotilia and immersed in the picturesque Piana di San Vittorino, stands the ancient Church of San Vittorino.

This is not just any place: the entire area has always been considered sacred. Even in pre-Roman times, the Sabines and Pelasgians performed their rituals here, attracted by the numerous mineral springs. The sacredness of the place was also maintained by the Romans, who exploited the thermal waters of Cotilia and built a temple dedicated to the nymphs right where the church stands today.

A Place of Martyrdom and Faith The current building stands on a history of profound spirituality. It was here, in 96 AD, that Saint Vittorino of Amiterno was martyred. To honor the saint, a crypt was initially built to house his remains.

The current structure, visible from the outside, was built between the 14th and 15th centuries and then enlarged between 1608 and 1613 thanks to the work commissioned by Bishop Pietro Paolo Quintavalle.

Today, the building shows the signs of time and nature: frequent karst phenomena such as sinkholes and seismic events have caused the progressive sinking and flooding of the church, accelerated by the waters of a spring that flows inside it. A

lthough the roof has collapsed, the Baroque façade still retains a unique and melancholic charm.

Works of art and the link with Cinema

Although the three-nave interior no longer houses the original works of art, it is important to note that some of its treasures have been saved and preserved elsewhere.

These include a bas-relief of the Annunciation, attributed to the master Giovanni Pisano, and a baptismal font, both from the 14th century, now kept in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Popolo in Cittaducale. A precious painting is preserved in the Diocesan Museum of Rieti.

The beauty and ethereal atmosphere of the church have not gone unnoticed. In 1983, the famous Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky chose this magical place as the setting for one of the most iconic scenes in his masterpiece, the arthouse film Nostalghia. This is further testimony to the unique and unforgettable charm of this site.