The Church of Santa Maria della Rocca is a glorious 14th-century structure perched on a rocky bluff. Lush valleys dense with green vegetation sweep down from the base of the church, whose bell tower rises high to mark the western border of Offida. Reach the plaza at the foot of this clifftop church and admire its polygonal apses and Gothic features.
Walk up the central steps or the path that loops around the side of the church. Stretching before you is a three-sided vista of undulating meadows and valleys, with silhouettes of mountains on the horizon. Consider how the church’s size is exaggerated by steep surrounding ravines. Look back on the town of Offida to see its historic buildings that stand between the trees farther up the hill.
Inspect the brickwork on the front of the church, which comprises pilasters and a cone-topped bell tower. Pass through the Gothic portal engraved with depictions of animals and vegetation to reach the nave. The interior walls are adorned by frescoes on ecclesiastical themes, crafted by the Master of Offida, who also created the painting in the upper part of the church.
Explore the architectural gems of the quaint village of Offida and descend to the valley floor to get photos of the church from below.
Note that the church was constructed in the 1330s on the ruins of a former Benedictine church. The site is open only on weekends, from morning to evening, with a lunch-time closure. Pay the fee if you want to go inside.
Find the Church of Santa Maria della Rocca on the western side of Offida. Walk down the slope in the historic center, passing the Teatro Serpente Aureo opera house, the Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta and the Merletto a Tombolo Museum along the way. You can also ride a bus to an adjacent stop.
