Rovine della Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie e Convento dei Cappuccini

The ruins of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie and its Capuchin convent lie outside Tagliacozzo. The church has disappeared, but remains of the convent preserve the history of a Franciscan foundation associated with the Colonna family and the town's religious life.

Why it matters

The complex reflects the Capuchin presence in Tagliacozzo and the support of the Colonna family. The friars' work during plague years contributed to the community's support for the foundation. Local historian Muzio Febonio praised the church and convent for their architecture and gardens.

What to notice

The surviving convent walls once enclosed a garden, vineyard and small wood associated with the Capuchin ideal of a self-sufficient religious community. The church itself no longer survives. Historical accounts record its furnishings, including an altar painting of the Trinity, a small statue of the Virgin and a carved wooden tabernacle.

Context and history

The Capuchins established a presence in Tagliacozzo in the mid-sixteenth century, and the Santa Maria delle Grazie complex grew with support from residents and the Colonna family. The friars took possession in 1628, and the convent was restored and refounded in 1686. After the last friars left in 1891, an earthquake in 1904 brought down the buildings. The convent has remained a ruin since that collapse.