Sant'Agostino is a

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, a Germanic people **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Gothic alphabet, an alphabet used to write the Gothic language ** Gothic ( ...

-style,

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

church located on Piazzale Giordani #1 in the town of

Recanati Recanati () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the province of Macerata, in the Italian region of Marche. Recanati was founded around 1150 AD from three pre-existing castles. In 1290 it proclaimed itself an independent republic and, in the 15th c ...

, province of Macerata, region of

Marche Marche ( ; ), in English sometimes referred to as the Marches ( ) from the Italian name of the region (Le Marche), is one of the Regions of Italy, twenty regions of Italy. The region is located in the Central Italy, central area of the country, ...

, Italy.

History

The church was built in 1270 adjacent to an Augustinian monastery located within the city walls. A century later it was refurbished, but still retains the side buttresses in elegant brick. The rounded portal carved in Istrian marble was completed in 1485 by a sculptor, Giovanni di Fiandra using a design by

Giuliano da Majano Giuliano da Maiano (1432–1490) was an Italian architect, intarsia-worker, and sculptor, the elder brother of Benedetto da Maiano, with whom he often collaborated. Biography He was born in the village of Maiano, near Fiesole, where his fat ...

. It is decorated with a statue of St Augustine and Christ Blessing. The church interior was refurbished in a

Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

style in the late 17th century, when it was no longer affiliated with the Augustinians. The design was by

Ferdinando Galli da Bibbiena Ferdinando may refer to: Politics * Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1549–1609) * Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1610–1670) * Ferdinando de' Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany (1663–1713), eldest son of Cosimo ...

. The side altarpieces were painted by Filippo Bellini,

Pier Simone Fanelli Pier Simone Fanelli (29 December 1641 - 1703) was an Italian painter active in the Region of the Marche, active in a Baroque style. Biography He was born in Ancona and died in Cingoli. His training is unclear. By 1665-1666 he was painting in the ...

Felice Damiani Felice Damiani or Felice da Gubbio (1530–1608) was an Italian painter of the Mannerism, Late Renaissance or Mannerism period. Biography He was a pupil of Benedetto Nucci in Gubbio. Because of his lively colouring, he was nicknamed the ''Paolo ...

, Antonio Calcagni, and traces of frescoes by

Giacomo di Nicola da Recanati Giacomo di Nicola da Recanati (active 1433-1466) was an Italian painter, active in the Marche during the 15th century. He paints in a late Gothic style. Biography He was born in Recanati, but few details are known of his life. There is a panel a ...

. The crossing of the church has a small cupola. A modern stained glass window has been placed above the main altar. The monastery now houses the ''Museo di Arte Contemporanea dei Pittori dell'Emigrazione''. Some claim the bell-tower of the church, and not the octagonal town tower, is the inspiration for the tower in

Giacomo Leopardi Count Giacomo Taldegardo Francesco di Sales Saverio Pietro Leopardi (29 June 1798 – 14 June 1837) was an Italian philosopher, poet, essayist, and philologist. Considered the greatest Italian poet of the 19th century and one of the greatest a ...

's poem of the ''Il passero solitario''. The poem only states that the sparrow in the poem can see the countryside from this ancient tower.Guida Turismo Marche
entry on church.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agostino Recanati Roman Catholic churches in Recanati Gothic architecture in le Marche Baroque architecture in Marche