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mail: Bill Thayer 
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A Typical Rural Chapel


[image ALT: An arch, not a meter wide and maybe a meter and a half tall, formed of two square posts of rough masonry of mixed brick and stone, in which hangs a small bronze bell. It is the belfry, of the type known as 'campanile a vela', of the church of S. Croce in Apecchio, Marche (central Italy).]

It couldn't be more typical of Italy:
the campanile a vela, or open belfry; here, with just one bell to call the faithful.


[image ALT: A small 1‑story building of small stone blocks, with a pitched tile roof, along a one-lane asphalt road. The side we see has two small arched windows. It is a side view of the church of S. Croce in Apecchio, Marche (central Italy).]
	
[image ALT: A small 1‑story building of small stone blocks, with a pitched tile roof, along a one-lane asphalt road. The side we see has two small arched windows. It is a side view of the church of S. Croce in Apecchio, Marche (central Italy).]

The door is small; the medieval window has been blocked off, probably because heat is a more precious commodity than light. (Notice though the set-up for lighting the cross at Christmas.)

For a full view of the façade, see the main page.


[image ALT: A small 1‑story building of small stone blocks, with a pitched tile roof, along a one-lane asphalt road. The side we see has two small arched windows. It is a side view of the church of S. Croce in Apecchio, Marche (central Italy).]
The south side of S. Croce: fair masonry work of good stone.

[image ALT: The rear wall of a small stone church: the wall is rectangular with a pointed top for the roof, and is taken up mostly by a large circular arch that has been filled in with rougher masonry. It is a view of the apse of the church of S. Croce in Apecchio, Marche (central Italy).]

Nothing, especially if it's old and has lived thru a lot, is ever what it seems: the church of S. Croce of Apecchio seems to have been a bit larger at some point, losing its choir and now blocked off at what would have been the "triumphal arch" that separated choir and nave. Pure speculation on my part, though: if you know the history of this chapel, please drop me a line, of course.


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Page updated: 4 May 05