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The complex comprising the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorbo can be seen from the Sorbo Valley, which is cut lengthways by the River Cremera, in the Campagnano di Roma area. The complex is situated on a high spur, at 222m, perched above the millenary erosion caused by the Cremera that has created picturesque ravines thick with lush river vegetation and provided excellent natural defence systems for the sanctuary.
The origin of the sanctuary is uncertain. The first documented mention is found in a 996 despatch from Otto III to the Monastery of St. Alexius, which talks of a “castellum quod dicitur Sorbi” and again in a plea to Innocent III from the monks of St. Paul who wished to recover several castles including this one in Sorbo. Finally, there is a mention in a letter from Honorius III to the Monastery of St. Alexius.
The Sorbo Sanctuary consists of the church and other buildings which date probably to the 12th and 13th centuries situated on different levels. The church is on the highest point of the complex, the third level, and can be reached by stairs that lead to a small square on the second level, then a path that climbs up to another square on the third level.
The entire complex, including the old convent of the Brothers of Carmel, is now in ruins, prompting the many restoration activities which are ongoing. The remains of the original complex shows traces of the transformations that the original architecture underwent over time.
The church, however, has already been restored. The portal, which has a simple peperino frame, bears the date A.D. 1487 chiselled into the architrave. The wide, shallow and symmetrical interior has a nave and two aisles with ten columns which support round arches made of sandstone blocks. The flooring is made of stone slabs. The ceiling of the central nave is of wooden trusses while those of the two aisles are crossed arch. At the back of the nave is an apse with a centre altar with a frescoed bowl.

Galleria fotografica