Church of Crocifisso

The Church of  Crocifisso, located in a strategic area near Ripe, has a long and fascinating history intertwined with local events. Reliable sources suggest that the ancient church was part of the Abbey of San Ginesio of Rocca Contrada (now Arcevia), and that a chaplain resided there, highlighting its significance as a place of worship. In 1879, the Lavatori brothers, including the priest Nicola Lavatori, acquired the land from the Benvenuti brothers of Belvedere, where a chapel had stood, destroyed by an apostolic indult in 1877. Two years later, in 1881, the Lavatori rebuilt the church from the foundations, as indicated by the Latin inscriptions on the walls inside. Today, the church is still owned by the Lavatori family, who have preserved and protected this place of worship for generations.

The church features a bell tower and houses a small altar behind which is an artistic private tomb belonging to the Lavatori and Fiorenza families, enriched with terracotta elements. Among the sacred furnishings is a 1872 Roman Missal with a leather cover, as well as a painting of the Madonna, which is annually venerated with a celebration that coincides with the Easter period.

An intriguing episode tied to the local history is the ambush of July 30, 1808, when the anti-French insurgents of Ripe attempted to surprise the Napoleonic troops near the chapel. The strategic location of the church, which overlooked the three main roads leading to the castle, made it an ideal spot for a surprise attack. According to local legends, the retreat of the French troops was caused by the miraculous apparition of Saint Pellegrino, the patron saint of the surrounding lands.

It is said that the apparition had a shocking effect on the French soldiers, causing them to flee, either in terror or convinced of the divine protection over the area. This episode is part of a series of popular resistance actions against the French occupation, which characterized the Marche region and the Papal States during the Napoleonic years.

The ambush, although not decisive, remains a symbol of the determination and religious fervor of the locals, ready to fight and resist even under the shadow of a seemingly divine miracle.