The Sanctuary stands where originally stood the ancient “Pieve” ( a rural church with a baptistery, upon which other churches without baptisteries depended). The current structure (of the church) was built in the early 1900s by the architect Bazzani of Rome, after a disastrous fire that destroyed the church. Only the crucifix miraculously survived. Restoration works lasted twenty years and the façade was inaugurated in 1954 (made in brickwork produced by the local kiln Bartoloni).
The plan consists of three aisles that end up to the presbytery that is dominated by the dome.
The church houses a beautiful fresco depicting St. Sebastian, two terracotta columns that suggested the style of the two statues representing St. Patrick and St. Sebastian: all findings from the old destroyed church.
The Sanctuary is characterized by the Art Nouveau style: the decorations made of terracotta and concrete, recall various symbols, such as the lily, the emblem of the city, the Franciscan cincture and the passion of Christ. At this regard, you cannot miss the Crucifix that as well as being object of a real miracle, it constitutes a precious piece of art. The image of the crucifix is a stunning work made in the 15th Century. According to the tradition, the head was carved by an angelic hand. Some experts compared the Crucifix (especially the face part) to the works of two of the most important Italian artists, Donatello and even Michelangelo. Analyzing the face, seen from the front side, the Christ seems alive; seen from the left side he looks dying and seen from the right side he’s immersed in a sleep of death. The body is full of beautiful details: it is possible to distinguish the veins, the bones and the nerves, tensed by the sufferings.
It is surely considered a masterpiece in which sculptural art and anatomic science are connected.
On the base of the bell tower and at the entrance of the convent you can see some Roman finds. The most important are the reproductions of two Egyptian statuettes.
The cenobitic shaped cloister, the construction of which started in 1697, was completed in 1743 and it has been recently restored. The lunettes represent some Franciscan life episodes.
The whole area where the Sanctuary is located has been the subject of archeological excavation, over the years (in the 18th Century and recently).
At present, some artifacts are conserved at the civic Museum, in the atrium of Palazzo Grimaldi, at the base of the bell tower; it is possible to admire other artifacts in their original location, as the precious mosaics (adequately preserved). The church is now closed due to the damages caused by the earthquake on August 2016.