Titolo: Eremo della Madonna della Stella - Poggiodomo
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Eremo della Madonna della Stella - Poggiodomo

The Hermitage of the Madonna of the Star is located in the Valley of Noce, near Roccatamburo, halfway between Poggiodomo and Cerreto.

It arose in the 7th century as Benedictine Monastic Cell under the supervision of the Farfa Abbey in Sabina, then it passed on to the Abbey of St. Peter in Valley near Ferentillo, always as Benedictine Hermitage. Afterwards the cell was transformed into a monastery that took the name of St. Benedict in Faucibus or Vallibus.
In 1294 the monastery was donated to St. Giovanni in Laterano due to a lack of monks. In 1308 the Augustinians from Cascia built the hermitage of St. Croce and carved into the rock about twenty cells that are today still visible but not all accessible, and a small church also half- carved in the rock. In 1416 the church was frescoed, and these frescoes belong to the Umbrian school influenced by Siena.

Poggiodomo

Poggiodomo


In the second half of the 15th century the Augustinians from Cascia complained about the bad conditions of the church, and the same church was restored by the Municipality of Cascia in 1525, then in 1630 it was no longer easy to keep a certain balance with the inhabitants of the neighbouring castles, therefore the hermits started to leave this place. The hermitage underwent several disputes. With the Kingdom of Italy many ecclesiastic privileges were abolished and the community goods of the hamlet of Roccatamburo were administered by the Municipality of Poggiodromo (1809).
In the April 1809 two young men of Roccatamburo discovered the remains of the church and in front of them they saw the picture of the Madonna. The news of the miraculous apparitions spread and Monsignor Ignazio Cadolini confirmed that it was instead the discovery of ancient frescoes. The Augustinians from Cascia started to collect money to renovate the church. The hermitage of St. Croce was called “Our Lady of the Star” because the painting of the Lady’s robe on the wall presented star-shaped crosses. The inhabitants of the neighbouring countries claimed possession of the hermitage, all with different motivations.
In 1970, with a court judgement, the hermitage passed on definitely to the Separate Administration of the Goods of Public Use in Rocchetta. The last hermit was Friar Luigi Crescenzi from Poggiodomo, fallen from the top of the cliff because he felt sick. The processions coming from the neighbouring countries were a lot and always increased, so to create the need to split the flow to the sanctuary starting from the month of May. The first Sunday was and is still reserved to Roccatamburo, the second one to Poggiodomo, the third one to Mucciafora together with the Municipality of Cerreto di Spoleto. The devotees during the pilgrimage used to soak a cloth with the oil of the lamp that was lighted in front of the picture, an oil that was then used to grease the sick. Many heart-shaped former votes still hang on the wall for grace received.


Source: www.comune.poggiodomo.pg.it

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