Built over a canal and around a venerated image of the Madonna and Child from the 1400s. The canal was a water mill for vegetable extracts and rice. The church was erected in 1632 Antonio Levanti. Artists who contributed to frescoes, decorations and a statue include: Caponeri, Fancelli, Putti, Arrigucci. On display is St Valentine’s skull.

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About Ss Maria e Valentino della Grada

Ss Maria e Valentino della Grada

This Church of St Mary and St Valentine can be traced back to 1627 because it was built around a venerated image of the Madonna and Child painted on the city wall here above the canal in the 1400s.

This flank of the church is part of an ancient water mill called the Grada – dialect for portcullis – which in turn refers to gates placed here to protect anyone from entering the city through the opening in the walls.

It was also utilized at one time for vegetable extracts used in dyeing, tanning and ink production and even as a rice mill in 1878. Turbines were also employed here but later removed. The tower over the canal would also have been a lookout post.

The image on the wall took the name of Madonna of the Cemetery because nearby was were many victims of the 1630s plague were buried. After this period popular worship intensified and then in 1632 the architect Antonio Levanti built this church. The internal design is distinguished by Corinthian columns and a symmetric, square floor plan. The angels above the main altar are attributed to Putti and the frescoes on either side were by Catalani.

Alfonso Torreggiani erected the two choir stalls high up on the side walls and ornately decorated.

Just before the right hand side chapel is a terracotta statue of St Anthony of Padova with the baby Jesus. It was completed by Arrigucci while other artists who contributed to the rich decorations were Caponeri and Fancelli. An organ from the 1700s  is located above the entrance door.

In this left hand chapel is the skull of St Valentine the Martyr, taken from another church cemetery in 1668 and brought here. It was subsequently identified as St Valentine of Terni who was decapitated in Rome. He was venerated as the patron saint of epileptics from the 4th century on.

Although the church was suppressed in 1798 it was permitted to stay open. Since 1934 it has been a parish church.

On the main altar is this beautiful 16th century image of the Madonna and Child referred to as Madonna della Grada.

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