Built by Florestano di Fausto between 1925-1928, the Aislo e Oratorio di Santa Rosa was meant to be the parish church of Predappio. The small oratory and kinder garden annexed onto it hosts two valuable works of art: ‘Madonna del Fascio’ and ‘Madonna del Libro’. Artists and sculptors created other magnificent works in this cosy little atmosphere.

About Asilo e Oratorio di Santa Rosa

Asilo e Oratorio di Santa Rosa

This complex constituting an oratory and kinder garden is devoted to Santa Rosa da Lima, in honour of Mussolini’s mother, Rosa Maltoni. Built at a cost £445.000 by Florestano di Fausto between 1925-1928 this was the only church in Predappio until 1934.

In 1929 the oratory was handed over to a Holy Order from Bergamo called ‘Orsoline di Gandino’, which is Ursuline nuns in English.

            Inside are two valuable works of art, this being the first of them called the ‘Madonna del Fascio’ (Our Lady of the Fasces). It’s a mosaic in polychrome ceramics illustrating an azulejos style by the Portuguese artists Leopoldo Battistini and Viriato Da Silva. Da Silva actually made it in Lisbon.

            This ground upon which the complex lies was donated by a private owner in order for the construction of the parish church of the recently created Predappio Nuova. However, Benito Mussolini shortly after changed the whole layout of this town. Although the foundations were laid he commissioned Di Fausto to build the future parish church now called Sant’ Antonio, on the opposite side of town. Nevertheless, it was decided to continue with building this oratory and dedicate it to Santa Rosa, after a Peruvian saint.

The stain glass windows were created by the master glass maker Guido Polloni from Florence while the old fashioned metallic decorations such as the lantern and wall mounted crosses were made by Eugenio Baldi.

            The oratory has only one nave but three little chapels cut out in circular shape. This one to the right is dedicated to Santa Rosa and displays a statue of St Joseph with the baby Jesus.

This beautiful wooden statue of Santa Rosa da Lima was executed by Bernadino Boifava.

            The main chapel here displays a marble altar made by Arturo Pirini from Cesena.

Ercole Zannetti was responsible for the rich art work around the presbytery. The neo-byzantine styles he illustrated here call to mind those from the Basilica of Sant’ Appollinare in Ravenna.

This next chapel on the left side is dedicated to the precious painting of the same name: the ‘Madonna del Libro’ (Our Lady of the Book). The artist is unknown. It’s said to have originated from the Gallery of Palatina in Florence and dates to the 16th century. It was expressly brought here at Mussolini’s command.

References

Il Paese di Mussolini, storia architettura città, La Romagna del Duce in cartolina, Forlì, 2003, p96.

Mariacristina Gori, Asilo e oratorio di S. Rosa: il restauro della Madonna del fascio, Forlì, 2001, pp9-77.

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