What
to see in Cantiano
San Nicolo' (St. Nicolò)
The Church of St. Nicolò rises opposite the Town
Hall. It was built at the beginning of the 19th century on the
foundations of an earlier church with the same name dating to the 11th
century. The only traces of this earlier church and of the Monastery,
which had ties to those in Fonte Avellana and in Sant’Angelo di
Chiaserna, are a Gothic window and a trefoil window which can be seen
behind the apse and inside the manse.
Inside the church there is a painting form the 17th century (Pieta' e
Santi, unknown author (Pietà and Saints, unknown author) in which there
is a view of the city of Cantiano as it was at that time. Behind the
High Altar, there is a painting with the effigy of St. Nicolò by Carlo
Maratta (1625 - 1713). In the second lateral altar to the right, there
is an altarpiece with the Madonna del Rosario con Bambino, San Domenico,
Santa Caterina e Santi (Madonna of the Rosary with Child, St. Dominic,
St. Catherine and Saints) attributed to the painter, Ercole Ramazzani of
Arcevia (1539 - 1598).
On the left, we find the altar dedicated to St. Francis. The painting depicting Christ on the Cross surrounded by a glory of angels. At the foot of the cross, the Virgin and St. Francis. Based on the artistic quality and style, it is attributed to Filippo Beccini of Urbino (1550-1603).
(From Cantiano tra Fede e Storia di F.Panfili – M. Tanfulli,
Cantiano 2000)
