Chiesa di Sant'Elia Profeta

The Chiesa di Sant'Elia Profeta (Church of St Elias Prophet) is situated in the street that bears its name, in Sperone.

Built towards the end of the 19th century, the church incorporates the original, much older chapel which was also dedicated to the patron saint. The following of St Elias Prophet developed in Sperone after a miraculous healing from the plague, which broke out in 1656. It is said that the parish priest at the time, Fr. Giovanni Giacomo Galeota, dreamed of the majestic figure of the saint who urged him to seek treatment from the Church to protect himself against the outbreak. Shortly afterwards, a local girl, who had dragged herself to the image of St Elias (still kept in the church today), used oil from the sacred lamp to salve her wounds and was immediately healed of the disease. The historic chapel then became a pilgrimage site for worshippers seeking the blessing of healing; they then left generous donations to the miraculous prophet. The congregation and following grew, and the 20th of July was chosen as the date to honour their patron saint, who regularly affirmed his protective presence for the community of Sperone by performing a series of miracles. 

Today, the church has a plain façade decorated by pilasters whose capitals are surmounted by two small bell towers and a semicircular votive shrine, containing an effigy of the prophet. The single-nave interior accommodates a high altar surmounted by a crucifix, and small side altars with alcoves. There are several beautiful paintings on the ceiling, including "Moses showing the Ten Commandments to the Jews", "St Elias on the Chariot of Fire" and the "Virgin with Dragon". To the right, visitors can enter the ancient chapel with its splendid frescoes. This sacred room has immeasurable artistic and spiritual value and houses the altar of St Elias. The fresco, which for centuries has stood the test of time, stands in a votive shrine encircled by cherubs. Recent restoration works on the chapel have revealed a valuable new treasure: a 16th-century fresco of St Eliseus, a follower of the prophet.

A religious landmark for the community of Sperone, the Church of St Elias Prophet is inseparably bound to the local population, partly thanks to its proximity to the “Museo Contadino” (Museum of Rural Life), which contains a collection of tools and utensils that evoke the history of this rural civilisation and the fascination of ancient crafts.