Santo Stefano – Art, Pilgrimage and Hilly Landscape

Santo Stefano lies far beyond the gates of Macerata, in a hilly and harmonious-looking landscape. The church, cobbled paths, a spring, religious traditions and historic scenes of everyday life shape the character of the village.

Art in the Church of Santo Stefano

The Church of Santo Stefano houses an organ created by Andrea Gennari between 1828 and 1829. The church also preserves the fresco of the Madonna della Fede by Lorenzo de Carolis, which was transferred from the original chapel of the same name. It also contains the painting “La morte di Giuseppe”, attributed to Carlo Maratta or his school. The church thus brings together an organ, a transferred fresco and an attributed painting in a specific sacred context.

Cobbled Paths and Historic Traces of Everyday Life

The Church of Santo Stefano can be reached on foot via the Mattonata, a cobbled path that leads downhill from Porta San Giorgio. Another historic route is associated with the Amattonata: in the past, after washing and hanging out the laundry, women would walk along the Amattonata to the Church of Santo Stefano and then return to collect the laundry. The cobbled surface and the downhill direction shape the route from Porta San Giorgio to the Church of Santo Stefano. The Amattonata, by contrast, represents the historic sequence of washing, hanging out and collecting the laundry.

Spring and Former Capuchin Monastery

The Fonte Ciambrone is located in the Contrada Santo Stefano and is known as the Fonte delle Trippe. It features lion masks carved from Cingoli stone. The former Capuchin monastery also stands in Santo Stefano. It was built directly above a water source in 1544 to supply an attached fishpond and is now used as a residential building. The lion masks belong to the spring, while the spring water is connected to the monastery’s origins.

Pilgrimage, Landscape and Local Traditions

During a youth pilgrimage in 2025 along a section of the Via Lauretana, the pilgrims reached Macerata via the ascent from Santo Stefano, known as the “Cappuccini vecchi”. The religious tradition also extends to a celebration in honour of Saint Vincent Ferrer, which included the blessing of the landscape and the display of Saint Vincent’s relic. A locally preserved tradition of a celebration in honour of Saint Vincent Ferrer also included a procession from the church to the Fonte delle Trippe. The religious tradition therefore encompasses both a route to Macerata and a procession within Santo Stefano.

Historic Olive Harvest and Everyday Cuisine

The historic olive harvest is also part of Santo Stefano’s character. The workers were served polenta with broccoli sauce.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

More places for planning your trip: Caldarola, Avenale, Capriglia, Sant'angelo In Pontano, Camerino, Grottaccia, Serrapetrona, Nemi

For the main travel overview: Macerata.