A church that is a rose: Santa Maria della Consolazione in Todi

Todi is a treasure trove of architectural, artistic and faith treasures. One of the most notable sacred buildings, and most loved by the Todi themselves, is the church of Santa Maria della Consolazione, also known as the Temple of Consolation. This structure rises high and dominates the village, and is defined as a stone flower between Rome and Loreto. This is because it has a particular plant. Although it is a Greek cross, like other basilicas, the side apses are semicircular rather than square. This gives it a very distinctive look, and a strong upward momentum. The devotion of the faithful to the structure is also linked to one of the most important festivals that are celebrated in Todi, which is held in September and at the end of which magnificent fireworks are held. The antiquity of the festival is testified by the fact that in the historical chronicles there is talk of 'arquebus fires'. One of the most important characters of Todi was Jacopone, author of the intense Stabat Mater in which the pain of a mother who loses her son is expressed, and of the faithful who sees her god die.