Nestled in the quiet hills of the Vallesina valley, surrounded by the green landscapes of the Castelli di Jesi, the Abbey of Sant’Elena represents one of the most evocative spiritual and architectural places in the Marche region. Located about 7 km from the center of Serra San Quirico, on the banks of the Esino River, it is one of the oldest Benedictine abbeys in the region, founded between 1005 and 1009 by St. Romuald, a monk from Ravenna and founder of the Camaldolese order.
The abbey is a rare example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture, recognizable by its compact and austere structure that gives it the appearance of a real church-fortress. The simple but elegant facade is dominated by a ribbed bell tower and a finely carved Romanesque entrance portal, with concentric round arches supported by half-columns and pilasters with carved capitals, in which Gothic and Byzantine elements blend.
Inside, the church is divided into three naves marked by columns with capitals richly decorated with geometric motifs, human and animal figures. The atmosphere is solemn and ancient, accentuated by soft lights filtering through small openings and an architectural simplicity that invites recollection.
The spiritual heart of the abbey is the crypt, located under the chancel. Rebuilt in a simplified form in 1925, it is now divided into seven naves with round arches. Four original 11th-century capitals, evidence of medieval sculptural art, are still preserved here.
In addition to the church, the ancient monastic complex features rooms with brick barrel and cross vaults and stone walls that tell centuries of history. One of the oldest rooms, dating from the 11th century, still has a stone slab floor and a barrel vault, and is probably the earliest nucleus of the settlement.
In 1180 the abbey officially entered the Camaldolese congregation, beginning a long period of spiritual and cultural prosperity. However, beginning in the 15th century it began a slow decline, exacerbated when Pope Innocent VIII appointed Cardinal Giovanni Colonna as commendatory abbot, removing it from the direct control of the Camaldolese. The complex was finally sold in 1816 to the Pianesi family, which retained ownership.
Today, only the church is open to the public, while the monastery has been expertly restored and transformed into a period residence with B&B, a location for weddings, private events and meetings, maintaining the historic charm of one of the most fascinating places of spirituality in the Marche region.
Photo © Sandro Giorgetti
