Sant'elia
Sant'Elia: a medieval gem in the province of Rieti
Sant'Elia is a charming hamlet of the town of Rieti, located upstream of the Sanctuary of Fonte Colombo and the hamlet of Piani Sant'Elia, about 7 km from the capital. The town has a privileged position at 705 m above sea level and offers a panoramic view of the Gran Sasso massif up to Monte Velino. In this medieval town, the fortress (12th century) is the first nucleus still present in the upper part, with remains of the gate of the primitive nucleus and the base of one of the defense towers, still visible towards the east on Fonte Colombo.
The archpriestal church of Sant'Elia
On the main square are located the old town hall (currently a private residence) and the archpriestal church, dedicated to the prophet Elijah, with an adjoining rectory. This church is the enlargement of a previous church of the same name (12th century) and heir to the primitive Parish Church of San Savino in Monte Izzo. As evidenced by the records of the Pastoral Visits of the Bishops of Rieti, Sant'Elia was exempt from the jurisdiction of the Vicars Foranei and the Parishes of Poggio Fidoni, Castel San Benedetto, and Maglianello were subject to it. Currently, the Parish of Sant'Elia Profeta includes the hamlets of Ville Sant'Elia, Sanctuary of Fonte Colombo, Piani Sant'Elia, and Case San Benedetto. The fifteenth-century portal of the church is decorated with sacred symbologies and was dismantled and reconstructed here from the Pieve of San Savino. The single-nave interior features six altars with frescoes from the sixteenth century and canvases from the seventeenth century. The main altar is adorned with a large canvas by Gioacchino Colantoni (1637) depicting Saint Elijah taken up in a chariot of fire and Saint Elisha asking for the protection of the town of Sant'Elia. The trapezoidal bell tower completes the uniqueness and beauty of this medieval church.
The San Francesco fresco in the sacristy
An important fresco was discovered during restoration works in 2011. It depicts "San Francesco che detta la regola" and is located to the left of the sacristy door. Dated 1579, this fresco is the first iconographic document of the event that took place in 1223 at the nearby Sanctuary of Fonte Colombo, known as the miracle of the cattle healed thanks to the intercession of Saint Francis of Assisi, to whom the inhabitants of Sant'Elia turned. The location is part of the "Cammino di Francesco."
Administration
Sant'Elia was an autonomous municipality from 1861 (Italian unification) until 1875 when the town hall was suppressed and the territory of Sant'Elia was annexed to the town of Rieti, of which it is still a hamlet.
Economy
The economy of Sant'Elia is based on agriculture and livestock farming.
Sport
The local football team is A.S.D. Alba Sant'Elia, which in the 2021-2022 season plays in the First Category championship.
Sant'Elia is a unique and precious medieval town in the province of Rieti, offering breathtaking panoramic views. The archpriestal church of Sant'Elia and the trapezoidal bell tower, together with the important San Francesco fresco in the sacristy, are just some of the beauties that make Sant'Elia a hidden treasure to discover.
