San Firmano Abbey, built more than one thousand years ago, is situated in the valley of the river Potenza, between Recanati and Montelupone.
The wonderful lunette of the portal appears like a pearl. Typical traits of Byzantine-Romanesque art can be found in the five figures of the high-relief, obtained from a Roman statue. At the centre Jesus with a royal crown on his head. Further down the Holy Virgin with the Child: this is probably the oldest image of the Virgin existing in the area. By her side a monk: we easily understand he is San Firmano. Above the lunette an eagle clawing a feline, symbol of the Ottoni family, who dominated in Italy in the 10 th century. The famous "Pactum or Privilegium Ottonianum" was on 13 th February 962.
The church is three aisled. Twelve pillars serve as basement for round arches. The style is fully Romanesque. What really strikes us, besides the harmonic series of round arche, is the wide gradin, so high and steep. Probably it was built by the monks in order to obtain a crypt, where they put San Firmano's body, which had been buried at first outside the Abbey.
With the steps and the subsequent formation of a first floor and the crypt, the church shows now a three-storey structure, typical of Romanesque churches.
A beautiful fresco of 1400 is situated on the left aisle: it recalls the same theme of the lunette, the Virgin at the centre with the Holy Infant looking at San Firmano. Furtheron the left the martyrdom of San Sebastiano. Nearby the tomb of the last bequeathers of the Abbey: the Galantara family. Two caryatids are on both sides of the apse.
Two small side-doors lead to the crypt. Almost all the arches here are ogive: an example of the gothic style, which fallowed the romanesque one. On the altar the beautiful terra-cotta statue of San Firmano ascribed to the brothers Della Robbia (1400). At the foot of the statue the relics of the Saint, contained in a brass shrine. The altar is substained by an arch and it is possible for the believers who walk under it, to be delivered from bones deseases.
We know very little of San Firmano's life. He probably lived in this Abbey from the year 986 to the day of his death on March 11 th 992.
The only biographical notes about San Firmano's life were gathered by Teodorico, Abbot of San Firmano, who also speaks of the many miracles of San Firmano.
The Monastery, of which San Firmano was the first Abbot, is still situeted next to the Abbey. Benedictine monks lived there up to 1468.
The Abbey was neglected for centuries. It has been restored since 1930 and on October 30 th 1938 it became a parish.
The little town of Montelupone has always considered San Firmano as Patron Saint and his day is celebrated on March 11 th.