Campi Albareto, Italy – Maestri

The next morning, Maria kindly fetched us from our quaint hotel. As we journeyed away from the village, tracing the course of the Taro River, nature unveiled its splendors—a cascading waterfall, majestic rock formations, and a distant castle gracing the horizon. Maria shared her plans to explore several churches with us.

As the river faded from view, the road meandered, leading us to some twist and turns. Suddenly, a small sign on side the road then Maria expertly maneuvered onto a very narrow side street.

Campi was nestled amidst the undulating landscape, a picturesque hamlet reveals itself, adorned with 33 quaint cottages, a time-worn church and a serene cemetery nearby. The intertwining pathways, more reminiscent of ancient thoroughfares, beckon contemplation of the village’s storied past.

Maria is guiding us through this picturesque scene, her uncertainty palpable as she unlocks the church with a key entrusted by a friendly priest. “I tried to find your family church, but I don’t know… in Italy there are countless churches,” she said..

Struck by the churches ancient beauty as we walked around, I though to myself “did I really expect to find the exact church, well at least we found the village“. Perhaps I was expecting too much from a school teacher turned tour guide. Just then I heard excitement in my wife’s whisper “Mike look!”

In that moment, amid the tranquil beauty of the church, the significance of this place hits home.

It’s the very spot immortalized in Natale Maestri’s obituary, as the sacred ground where the Maestri family had worshipped for generations. It becomes an experience of profound depth and meaning, etched forever in the tapestry of our memories.

A marble plaque on the rear wall of the church, etched in stone thanking Natale for his generous donation to restore the church in 1923.

Campi likely comprised a close-knit community of families who journeyed, worked and toiled together -a Paisani. Which may explain the origin of the “Maestri” family name.

The roots of the Maestri lineage intertwine with the nearby rock quarries and the Via Francigena, a direct route connecting the known world during the 14th and 15th centuries.

While the church may be considered modest by Italian standards in terms of size, its true magnificence lies within its exquisite artwork and profound sense of sanctity. Despite its diminutive stature, the exterior exudes an ancient charm, adorned with a stucco facade and a bell tower, both of which were generously funded by Natale Maestri.