Photo by Strion, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Churches and religious sites in Riccione
Chiesa Mater Admirabilis
Chiesa Mater Admirabilis is at 39 Viale Antonio Gramsci, near the sea in Riccione. Its history is bound up with the birth of the seaside town: the new building replaced a chapel that had become too small. Admission is free.
A church supported by beachgoers
Giacinto Martinelli had converted a stable into a chapel, but some worshippers had to follow Mass from outside. In 1908, a church-building committee was formed, supported by beachgoers' donations; Martinelli provided the land. The first stone was laid on 8 August 1909.
The design was by engineer Giuseppe Camperio, with work supervised by Luigi Tonetti. The building suffered serious damage in the 1916 earthquake and was restored with public and private contributions.
The name and interior
Mater Admirabilis refers to the painting on the high altar, a copy of a fresco preserved at Trinità dei Monti in Roma. Altars dedicated to Sant'Antonio and Sacro Cuore were added later. The parish history reconstructs the stages of construction and restoration.
The entrance has steps with a ramp for people with mobility difficulties, and beside the main entrance is parking reserved for people with disabilities. To continue through the centre, Viale Ceccarini shows another side of the town's development.
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