Architecture

The Temple of Valadier, set in the rock, is located in an ancient cave in the gorge of Frasassi, in the town of Genga in the Marche region, Italy.

You can leave the car in a small parking spot along the road that enters the gorge. From there a walkway of about 700 meters climbs along the steep mountain walls, taking you to the cave.

INFORMATION

GEOTAG / Temple of Valadier
OPENING HOURS / always open
TICKET /
free entrance

Temple of Valadier parking

Climbing up you will feel the temperature difference and at the top there is a chance it could be slightly windier and cooler, so I would recommend you to bring a little jacket.

Temple of Valadier walkway
Temple of Valadier walkway
Temple of Valadier walkway

The chosen place was an ancient refuge of the populations who hid there around the 10th century to avoid attacks and looting from the enemies that raged in the area.

Temple of Valadier

The caves were discovered between the '700 and '800 when it became known the function they had in the past.
Then Pope Leo XII, native of the area, to remember it, decided in 1828 to entrust the project of a building, that would keep its memory, to the famous Roman architect Giuseppe Valadier, already known for his prestigious buildings in neoclassical style.

The temple is known indeed also as a "Refuge for Sinners", which acted as a pilgrimage site for those seeking forgiveness.

Temple of Valadier

The small octagonal temple with a domed roof built in white travertine blocks rises in silent in the heart of the Natural Regional Park of Gola della Rossa and Frasassi.

Arrived at the entrance your view will be this.

Temple of Valadier

Entering the cave you will realize the architectural masterpiece and the magnificent context in which it is located.

The Temple of Valadier

The interior originally housed a marble Madonna and Child attributed to the well-known Italian neoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova; however, the original was moved to the local civic museum of Genga and a replacement was installed in the temple.

The Temple of Valadier
The Temple of Valadier
The Temple of Valadier

A few meters away from the building there is the older one, a small hermitage of the 1029 ca, excavated in the rock and dedicated to Santa Maria infra Saxa, that used to serve as a cloistered monastery of nuns Benedictine.

Sanctuary of Santa Maria infra Saxa

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7 Comments

  1. Griselda
    April 21, 2019 / 2:26 am

    Sounds absolutely magical. What a amazing place to visit. Looks and sounds unreal. Great article once again

    • Giulio
      Author
      April 21, 2019 / 10:13 am

      Thank you soooo much Griselda <3 love you. Its a magical place indeed. Like in the fairy tails. Hope you will be able to visit it one day

  2. Cannnnik
    April 21, 2019 / 8:35 pm

    This photography is epic!

    • Giulio
      Author
      April 21, 2019 / 8:40 pm

      thank you so much Clare <3 the place itself is epic and magical tho

  3. Anna Maria
    April 22, 2019 / 12:17 pm

    This place looks very mystical and adventurous to me, nearly like movie location . Love the shots you have taken of the temple,very magical mood.The little recommendations make this article really helpful. Maybe a tiny adventure, but brilliant

  4. Alejandra
    April 22, 2019 / 7:50 pm

    Looks so paceful and calm, and the photograph is so cool! Nice!

    • Giulio
      Author
      April 22, 2019 / 9:43 pm

      Very peaceful and dreamy. Magical I would say. And thank you a lot I appreciate

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