Santo Stefano, also called the ''Chiesa dei Cappuccini Vecchi'', is a

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...

-style,

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

church located on Via Fonte Maggiore, about a mile north of the town

Macerata Macerata () is a city and ''comune'' in central Italy, the county seat of the province of Macerata in the Marche region. It has a population of about 41,564. History The historical city centre is on a hill between the Chienti and Potenza ri ...

, region of

Marche Marche ( , ) is one of the twenty regions of Italy. In English, the region is sometimes referred to as The Marches ( ). The region is located in the central area of the country, bordered by Emilia-Romagna and the republic of San Marino to the ...

, Italy.

History

The

Capuchin order The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (; postnominal abbr. O.F.M. Cap.) is a religious order of Franciscan friars within the Catholic Church, one of Three " First Orders" that reformed from the Franciscan Friars Minor Observant (OFM Obs., now OFM) ...

came to Macerata in 1544, and as was common for

Franciscan order , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...

, established itself outside the city walls in this rural location. In 1603, however, they relocated into town, and the church became parish church of the Contrada Santo Stefano. Soon thereafter, the present church was erected. The façade is serene and sober with monumental Doric pilasters supporting an unadorned triangular tympanum. The central portal has a rounded pediment. This church has a Latin cross layout with three chapels on each side. The main altarpiece is a ''Death of St Joseph'' attributed to the studio of

Carlo Maratta Carlo Maratta or Maratti (13 May 162515 December 1713) was an Italian painter, active mostly in Rome, and known principally for his classicizing paintings executed in a Late Baroque Classical manner. Although he is part of the classical tradition ...

.Comune of Macerata
entry on church. The interior also has a fresco image of a ''Madonna della Fede'' derived from a nearby chapel.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stefano Macerata 17th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Renaissance architecture in le Marche Roman Catholic churches in Macerata