An ancient church incorporated into the buildings of the Village
The Church of Saints Senesius and Theopompus is the parish church of Castelvetro di Modena, dedicated to the two patron martyrs of the community. It is in all probability the oldest church in Castelvetro, but the date of its construction is unknown. It was originally the private chapel of the Rangoni marquises, located near their palace, inside the walls. It was later enlarged to accommodate the influx of an increasingly large population, when the old parish church of S. Maria del Gherlo outside the walls was abandoned.
Further renovations and extensions took place after the 1501 earthquake, with the re-use of stone blocks, tombstones and pre-existing material. A bell tower and several chapels were added in the early 17th century. The bell tower was built against a perimeter wall of the church and this later caused serious damage to the structure. For this reason, an initial consolidation work was necessary in 1758, followed by further interventions in the 19th century and in 1965.
Originally, the church was built with the altar to the east - referring to Christ, the rising sun - while access for the faithful was to the west. Today, the ancient access is only partially visible as the Rangoni family, at an unspecified date, joined their palace to the church, thereby covering a large part of the façade.
Numerous paintings enriched the Church at various times. Many of these, now restored, have found their place in the new Parish Church. Following the construction of the new parish church, the old church was deconsecrated and converted into a private residence.
