Chiesa di Santo Stefano Protomartire

Santo Stefano Protomartire preserves an early strand of Fiuggi's religious history in the hilltop town once called Anticoli. Its medieval origins and later Baroque remodelling distinguish it from the better-known architecture of the spa district.

Why it matters

The church is recorded in medieval sources, including tithe payments at the turn of the fourteenth century. Its long association with the local community is recalled in the name Chiesa dei Pastori, the Shepherds' Church.

What to notice

An exterior side preserves traces of earlier architectural forms within the later building. These survivals contrast with the Baroque appearance created by subsequent alterations. The dedication to Stephen honours Christianity's first martyr.

Context and history

Later rebuilding under Bishop Seneca gave it a new form while retaining elements of the medieval fabric. Its pastoral nickname recalls the former custom of dawn Mass for shepherds and farmers before their day's work, linking the building with the social history of the hilltown.