In the heart of the scenic
Nature Reserve of the Rosandra Valley, the small church of
Santa Maria in Siaris, perched on a
karst ridge, is the protagonist of legends thanks to its ancient history.
Located outside the
medieval walls of Tergeste, the church was probably built in the
13th century, according to legend, on the orders of
Charlemagne, who wanted to be buried there.
The church of Santa Maria in Siaris became a
place of pilgrimage in the early 1300s, as evidenced by the ancient statutes of the
Flagellant Confraternity dating back to 1330, which stipulated that blasphemers had to walk barefoot from the convent to the church (12 kilometres away) as a penance.
In
1647 the church was restored and expanded, taking on its current
rectangular shape with an apse, portico and small bell tower. Over the centuries, the church has undergone several restorations due to vandalism, but its
mystical atmosphere has always remained intact.
The church is called
"Marija na Pečah" in the Slovenian language, which means
Virgin Mary on the rocks because of its position embedded in the
Karst formation.
The route to the church passes through the remains of the
Roman Aqueduct and winds through spectacular vegetation to reach the site, which also offers
a spectacular view of the entire Rosandra Valley.
Info:
Centro visite
Bagnoli della Rosandra-Boljunec, 507
34018 San Dorligo della Valle-Dolina (TS)
Tel. / Fax. 0039 040 8326435
Tel. 0039 040 8329435
www.riservavalrosandra-glinscica.it
centrovisite@riservavalrosandra-glinscica.it
For addictional information:
Infopoint Muggia
Piazza Marconi, 1
34015 Muggia (TS)
Tel. 0039 040 9571085
info.muggia@promoturismo.fvg.it
