San Massimo
Many Saints with the Same Name
There is a name that frequently appears in the list of saints: Maximus. Some of them suffered martyrdom, others were venerated as confessors, and still others dedicated their lives to prayer and charity. Then there are the many Italian towns that bear the name of San Massimo, perhaps attributable to the cult of one of the saints with the same name. But there is more, even a valuable work of art: the statue of San Massimo by Donatello.
San Massimo, the Municipality in Molise and Its Hamlets
The Municipality of San Massimo is located in the province of Campobasso, in Molise, not far from the town of Schiavi di Abruzzo and the mountains of Maiella. It extends over a hilly territory, crossed by the Trigno River. The municipality is made up of the town center and some hamlets, including San Massimo itself. However, there are other Italian towns that share the same name.
A List of Italian Places Bearing the Name San Massimo
There are several Italian hamlets that bear the name San Massimo, all very different from each other. For example, there is San Massimo in Lombardy, not far from the city of Pavia, characterized by an important French presence. Still in Lombardy, but further north, near Voghera, there is another hamlet of San Massimo. In Abruzzo, instead, there is a naturalistic oasis of San Massimo, while in Liguria there are San Massimo-Piana Crixia and San Massimo-Rapallo. Finally, in Verona, San Massimo, formerly known as San Massimo all'Adige, is a hamlet of the municipality of Verona located on the left bank of the Adige River.
The Saint Maximus
Actually, the name Maximus is not rare only among Italian municipalities, but also among saints. In fact, there are numerous saints and martyrs who bear this name, reaching a total of 25 figures. The first of these holy men is Saint Maximus martyr in Galicia, Spain, whose death date is unknown, but celebrated on September 4th. One of the most famous is Maximilian Kolbe, a Pole who sacrificed his life to save that of a fellow inmate at Auschwitz. But there are many other patrons, including Saint Maximus of Syria, Saint Maximus of Padua, Saint Maximus of Ostia, and many others.
Donatello's Statue
But there is also a famous statue of San Massimo created by the famous sculptor Donatello. The work, in white marble, is located in Ancona, in the Church of Santa Maria della Piazza. The statue was commissioned in 1443 by Father Francesco della Rovere, as a sign of devotion to the figure of San Massimo. Donatello's work is a masterpiece of rare beauty, depicting the saint in a position of meditation and contemplation, with a serene face and a slender body. The statue soon became one of the most famous works of the Renaissance, inspiring artists of every time and country.
In conclusion, there are so many stories related to the name "San Massimo", so many places and countless saints who bear the name. Each one has their own story, their own particularities, but all these common elements make this name something truly special. In the end, San Massimo is a name that reminds us of the beauty of art, the history of religion, and an infinite variety of places and legends.
