Chiesa della Madonna della Neve

The Church of the Madonna della Neve is the principal surviving building of Cervia Vecchia, the town that once stood among the salt pans before Cervia moved nearer the coast. Built in 1603, it preserves the memory of the old settlement and its religious life.

Why it matters

The church is a rare architectural remnant of Cervia's earlier urban centre. When the town was relocated, much of the old settlement was dismantled and its materials reused; the Madonna della Neve remained as a marker of the place. The building also connects the salt pans with an image of the Virgin now preserved in Cervia's cathedral.

What to notice

The church has a modest façade with a narrower front block projecting from the body of the building. Its exterior was restored in the 1970s, while the historic interior furnishings were not preserved. The panel of the Madonna della Neve, attributed to Barbara Longhi, was transferred to the first chapel on the right in Cervia's cathedral.

Context and history

Cardinal Bonifacio Bevilacqua, bishop of Cervia, and the Capponi family promoted construction in 1603. The church later served as a burial place for residents of Cervia Vecchia and, after the town's relocation, as a barracks for the Guardia di Finanza. The old town declined as the coastline shifted and unhealthy conditions contributed to malaria and depopulation. In 1697, the papal authorities approved rebuilding Cervia near the sea; materials from the abandoned settlement were carried to the new town in salt boats called burchielle. The Madonna della Neve remained as the most visible surviving trace of the former city.