The statue of Christ the Redeemer, also called the Sacred Heart of Jesus, stands on the hill of the Sacro Cuore, a small rise in the north of Ascoli Piceno. It is 12 metres high in all and made of travertine blocks. It was unveiled on 18 May 1954, the feast of the Sacred Heart.
What to see
The statue shows Christ facing the town, with his arms open in a gesture of protection. It was made to fulfil the vow the people of Ascoli had made so that the town would be spared damage and destruction during the years of the Second World War. The travertine comes from the nearby village of Castel Trosino: of the 12 metres, seven are base and five are statue, made by stacking three blocks of stone.
The figure of Christ is by the Ascoli sculptor Antonio Mancini; the base, designed by the architect Vincenzo Pilotti, bears on its front the Latin inscription «Tibi Servator divine Honos et Gloria», with travertine letters. The monument has been struck twice by lightning: in 1965, with slight damage, and on 15 August 1990, when the statue had to be removed and restored before returning to its place. In 2023 the sculpture and the surrounding area were restored again.
Visiting
The statue is on the hill of the Sacro Cuore, in the north of the town. Access and times should be checked on site.
Our editors' tip
Castel Trosino, the village the statue's travertine comes from, is also known for its Lombard necropolis: tombs and grave goods from Castel Trosino are now displayed in the Museum of the Early Middle Ages at the Forte Malatesta.
