Church of San Giacomo Maggiore

The first evidence of Monterado as a town dates back to the mid-thirteenth century, when the monks of Fonte Avellana reclaim the territory and build the parish church. Cardinal Giulio Della Rovere in 1569 removed the ancient monks of Avellana because they had fallen morally from the primitive customs, and introduced the Camaldolese monks. After a few years it was Pope Gregory XIII with Bull of 1578 to assign in perpetuity to the Germanic College of Rome, governed by the fathers of the Society of Jesus, all the assets of the Avellanite monastery. With the advent of the Jesuits, the center of Monterado is chosen as the capital of all their properties, and this benefits the entire community. That of San Giacomo is a unique church with hexagonal plant finished in 1870. In a side chapel there is the image of the Blessed Virgin of Mercy, which portrays Mary as the sweetest Mother: she holds the Child standing on her knees, blessing the faithful. The cross vault has a decoration made in 1947 by Prof. Pauri di Fano. It represents the coronation of the Virgin, surrounded by musical angels. Remarkable is the sculpture The Resurrection, donated by the contemporary artist Leandro Memè for the celebrations of the jubilee year 2000.The work, made of woods of different essences, launches the message of the victory of life over death and the value of hope, stronger than the pain that afflict every person. Above the sculpture of the Resurrection is the statue of San Paterniano. An artistic canopy-ciborium with wooden Tabernacle of 1900 is placed to the left of the altar. The wooden Baptistery, painted in the form of an aedicule, is located to the left of the entrance hall, facing another niche with the statue of Saint Anthony the Abbot. The altar, with elegant columns, is made of sandstone. The apse is decorated with the symbol of Jesus – the fish –
ICHTHUS = I, Iesus; CH, Christos; th, Theou; U, Uios; S, Salvator, ie Jesus Christ is the Son of God Saviour.