Ferentillo

Ferentillo is a small village wedged between two steep mountain slopes, located on the banks of the Nera River, in a geographical context of great naturalistic charm.

On one side of the river is the main centre of Ferentillo, the district of Matterella, which preserves the splendid collegiate church of S. Maria.

An unlikely legend has it that the Holy Grail is hidden in this place: the mythical cup used by Jesus during his last supper. Believers say that the initials of the names of the saints painted on the church walls form the word Grail. The protagonists of the frescoes in question are indeed Jesus, St. Roch, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Anthony Abbot and St. Lucy.

Just crossing the waters of the Nera river, you will come across another mysterious story, which is nevertheless based on objective evidence, linked to history and biology. The district is Precetto and the Museum of the Mummies of Ferentillo is located here: an amazing place that attracts lovers of history and the macabre and manages to fascinate even the youngest children. The aeration and composition of the soil in the crypt of San Stefano, which houses the museum, has meant that some corpses buried here centuries ago have undergone a mummification process, making them appear to have been dead for only a few days.

Not far from Ferentillo, continuing along the Nera River northwards, one finally encounters a hidden gem of Italian art and architecture: the abbey of S. Pietro in Valle, of very ancient Longobard foundation (8th century A.D.).