Church of Santa Liberata

The parish church of Roncitelli, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is the spiritual heart of the ancient hilltop village. Its origins are very ancient: the first documentary evidence dates back to 1139, when it is cited as Sancto Johanne de Galupedo, the ancient name of the town. Since then, the church has accompanied the history and religious life of the community, transforming over time but maintaining a strong connection with its traditions.

The building has a simple and elegant rectangular plan, enriched by two side chapels connected to the central nave by round arches that give harmony and luminosity to the space. Among the most significant elements, the Chapel of Purgatory stands out, decorated with geometric motifs and housing the canvas of the Souls in Purgatory, one of the building’s most evocative works.

Although she is not the titular saint of the parish, Santa Liberata is the patron saint of Roncitelli and her cult is deeply rooted in the town. The church preserves an iconography dedicated to the saint, who is traditionally represented together with the other saints venerated in the chapel. His devotion culminates in the patronal feast, celebrated every year on the second Sunday of May, a moment deeply felt by the community, between liturgical celebrations, popular traditions and moments of encounter.

Today, the church of Roncitelli continues to be a religious and cultural landmark, preserving a heritage of history, faith, and collective memory that has united the village’s inhabitants for centuries.