Church del Portone

CHURCH OF PORTONE

The history of the church entitled Santa Maria della Neve, more commonly known as the Church of the Portone, has its roots in the Middle Ages, when it was located within the city walls, however. Then, it was subsequently dismantled and abandoned and another space was found for the construction of a church once again dedicated to Santa Maria della Neve and then Chiesa del Portone.

The church is divided into three naves and has a rectangular plan. These three naves can already be seen from the external facade, since in addition to the main portal there are two other side portals corresponding to the respective naves.

Above each side portal we find mosaic triple lancet windows. In the three-light window on the right, in the central window, there is the Virgin, while in the three-light window on the left, also in the central arch, there is Saint John the Baptist, among other things corresponding to the nearby baptismal font, recognizable by the scroll where we read the writing Ecce Agnus Dei and in fact he also carries a small lamb on his arms.

The interior of the Church of Portone, with a rectangular plan, is characterised on the walls by the presence of paintings representing the seven sacraments.

We start, entering, on the left wall, where we see the Baptism of Christ at the Jordan, right in correspondence with the baptismal font, and then continue with the Confirmation, the Eucharist and the Reconciliation.

On the right wall, however, it ends with the Priestly Ordination and the Marriage. The last, in this case, the last in order of enunciation, is not actually a sacrament, but a representation of when Pope Pius XI gave a new beginning to the Church of Portone after its umpteenth renovation that followed the devastating earthquake that struck the center, which struck the entire city of Senigallia in 1930.

In the presbytery, however, we note the presence of a large crucifix in the center of the apse wall, flanked by four stained-glass windows where we can recognize four figures who witnessed the crucifixion and death of Christ: Saint Mary Magdalene, the Virgin Mary Mother of God, Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Longinus.

Now you can also turn your gaze and admire this beautiful organ, which came out of the Pincetti factory, above the entrance portal. A wonderful pipe organ, still used frequently today, especially during the summer, on the occasion of the Organ Festival.