A Passage to Le Marche
A Journey through Baroque
Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista
Jesi

The church was built next to an ancient monastic church with annexed guest-quarters for pilgrims. Apostolini monks moved there since 1560 and began restoring the ancient church and the building of the new one in 1607. The new site was characterized by an only nave with chapels on the left side.

Filippini monks took their place in 1678. They charged Flaminio Mannelli, an architect from Arcevia with the prosecution of the fabric, especially for the organization of the insides and the layout of the facade. The outside follows a linear and geometric conception. It is all built in bricks. The only decoration present is the low-relief portraying the Baptism of Christ.

The plant was kept unchanged. The central nave was trimmed with side chapels also on the east side. They were all framed with Corinthian capitals decorated with golden threads. 

The entablature by Tommaso Amantini, sustains the beam that projects itself through the nave. The vaulted roof is decorated with floreal elements executed following Mannelli design. 

The candid church permeates with celestial atmosphere recalling the spiritual ascension to God. The chapels are treasure keepers: golden decorations, stuccoes, paintings, frescoes all contribute to enrich them and to attribute elegance.

Among the most important works of art in the church there are: the altarpiece with “Giovanni Battista, Madonna col Bambino e i SS. Agnese, Maria Maddalena dè Rossi e Francesco Saverio” by Giovanni Peruzzini, the “Immacolata Concezione” by Giacinto Brandi, the copy of “Noli me tangere” (original by Federico Barocci) painted by Gian Giacomo Duti. The remarkable scenes of San Filippo life by Arcangelo Aquilini and of San Giovanni Battista by Antonio Mazzi are also worth mentioning. The church stands as evidence of Le Marche baroque and rococo style.

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