Church of San Pellegrino Ripe

History

The Church of San Pellegrino is located at the entrance to the town of Ripe and was built between 1781 and 1785, replacing a previous religious building. This is the fourth church built in the area: the first evidence dates back to the 11th century, when a parish church existed; subsequently, between 1400 and 1600, a second church dedicated to San Pellegrino was built. In 1643 this was demolished and replaced by a new building, which, due to population growth, was already insufficient by 1750. For this reason, work began in 1781 on the current parish church, completed in 1785.

Saint Pellegrino, bishop and martyr, is the patron saint of the church and patron saint of the parish. On May 1° his election as Ripe’s principal protector is celebrated. The church also houses the relics of St. John Paul II.

Architecture and Art

The church faces the main street and has a façade divided into two orders, with the bell tower located on the right. The interior is characterised by a wide central nave, flanked by two false naves, connected by large arches. The high altar houses a statue of Saint Pellegrino, set in a majestic golden frame.

Among the works of art housed inside, the canvas of the Madonna del Carmine with Saints Rocco and Sebastian, from the Marche school of the 15th-16th century, from the ancient church of San Rocco, stands out. Another important section is the chapel of the Crucifix, decorated with fine marble, which houses a 17th-century wooden crucifix and a statue of Our Lady of Sorrows preserved in a niche. The vault of the chapel is embellished with a fresco depicting the Eternal Father contemplating his Son.

In the left nave there are two chapels dedicated to the Virgin. The first houses the painting of the Madonna del Soccorso, venerated in Ripe since 1790, while the second houses the Madonna del Rosario, a work dating back to the early eighteenth century. At the centre of the apse is a depiction of Jesus with angels, while the high altar was once decorated with the altarpiece of the Madonna and Child, Saint Pilgrim and Saint Philip Neri, now located on the right wall of the presbytery.
A major conservative restoration project, carried out between September 2014 and August 2015, restored the Church of San Pellegrino to its former splendor. The work, conducted by a team of experts and largely carried out by local companies, particularly concerned the roof, underground spaces, and interior decorations.In particular, the pseudo-northern nave housing the baptistery, the confessional and the tabernacle has been embellished with modern artistic finishes.

Among the most significant interventions, the redevelopment of the ancient ossuary below stands out, transformed into a new crypt: an evocative underground chapel, later dedicated to Saint John Paul II. Inside the church is a precious relic of the Pope, who became the city’s patron saint following the 2014 merger. It is a lock of his hair, transferred to the church on the occasion of the first patronal feast celebrated on October 22nd. The city was the first in Italy to officially welcome Saint John Paul II as its patron saint.
The Church of San Pellegrino, with its history and artistic heritage, represents an important place of faith and culture for the community of Ripe.