In the historic center of Ortezzano, overlooking the square of the same name, stands the Chiesa di San Girolamo (Church of St. Jerome) — now a beloved parish church and silent guardian of the village’s history.
Its origins are lost in time, but we know that as early as 1290 a small chapel linked to the Pieve di San Massimo existed here. It was, however, in the 16th century that San Girolamo really blossomed: as the ancient churches of San Massimo and Santa Croce saw their importance wane, this small chapel took up their legacy, becoming Pieve and the center of the village’s religious life, led by the first parish priest of whom we have memory, Don Vagnozzo Vagnozzi, from 1566. Interestingly, the dedication to St. Jerome precedes the founding of the parish itself; this suggests a deep connection with the Farfensi monks, for whom the saint, a well-known translator of the Bible, perfectly embodied their ideal of prayer and work. By the 18th century, the building required significant restoration, and around 1770, thanks to Cardinal Paracciani and, above all, the generosity of the people of Ortezzano, the church was rebuilt—a project that lasted five years, culminating in the blessing in 1775 and the solemn consecration in 1799. Today, the church welcomes you into a space divided into three naves: the central one, higher and brighter, ends in an apse with a flat wall. Many architectural and decorative details tell about the transformations that this sacred place has experienced over time. The most prominent among them is the original entrance on the west side —later walled up— which still preserves the original municipal coat of arms dated 1637 and, incorporated in the masonry, a capital. In the bell tower, which stands about 20 meters high and was restored in the mid-19th century, an Roman-era epigraph—reused as the lintel of a small window—was discovered.
Until the 18th century, the church also served as a burial ground for the local community, even including members of the noble Sacchi and Zambecchini families. This practice ended with the creation of the cemetery at the Chiesa del Carmine.
The interior appearance you see today is the result of a major restoration carried out between the 1920s and 1930s, led with dedication by parish priest Don Michele Antonini. During those years, thanks to financial support of the municipality and the valuable volunteer work of local citizens, the floors were renovated using red Verona marble while the five original altars were replaced by three more sober marble ones. Finally, the walls and vault were adorned with floral and geometric decorations by artist Michelangelo Bedini da Ostra.
On the high altar a valuable canvas depicting The Last Communion of St. Jerome catches the eye and is a copy from Domenichino’s artwork by Silvio Galimberti. Six statues occupy the side niches, including the
Finally, above the main entrance, in the choir, is preserved a valuable 19th-century organ made by maestro Felice Morganti of Ascoli Piceno. Although no longer functional today, this instrument continues to fascinate with its wooden case bearing the painted inscription “Laudat Deum,” its twenty-five tin pipes, and its finely carved keyboard, testifying to the ancient art of organ building.
