Located on a small plateau near the border with Tuscany, the Church of Madonna delle Piane rises in a wide and scenic rural setting, in an area once inhabited by the Etruscans. According to tradition, the church was built in 1088 after the discovery of an image of the Virgin, around which a shrine was erected. The church has a single-nave layout, probably dating back to the 12th century. Its current appearance is the result of renovation work carried out around 1680. The gabled façade features two side windows with wrought iron grilles flanking the main entrance door, typical of rural churches. Restoration work in the 1990s revealed the foundation of an ancient portico, now lost. Inside, the nave has a wooden truss roof, while a barrel vault opens above the main altar. At the center of the altar is a statue of the Madonna, depicted standing and holding the Child. In his right hand, the Child holds a swallow, a symbol of rebirth and purity.
Furnishings, worship and community life
In the past, the church had four side altars. Today, only two stucco-framed niches remain: one housing a Crucifix and the other a 17th-century statue of the Madonna Addolorata (Our Lady of Sorrows).
The church was once served by a chaplain and, since its founding, hosted a solemn celebration on the second Sunday after Easter. The event was accompanied by a local fair that brought together worshippers and visitors, including from nearby Tuscany, blending devotion with the festive spirit of springtime.
Behind the building are still visible the sacristy and a small hermitage, inhabited until 1861 by a guardian hermit.
Where
Località Le Piane, 3, 01020 Proceno VT, Italia
