Small votive shrine (“cona”, from the Latin icona) dedicated to Saint Roch, co-patron of San Felice Circeo.
The sources on Roch of Montpellier are uncertain. Born around the middle of the 14th century in a town in southern France, the only son of rich and devout townspeople, he was soon orphaned. A great example of charity, he gave up all his possessions and distributed his considerable inheritance to the poor. Dressed as a pilgrim, he set off on a journey to Rome, caring for plague victims along the way and performing wonders and healings. Struck by the plague himself, he took refuge in a wood, where, completely alone, he was helped by a dog that fed him every day with a piece of bread. The dog’s owner, curious about these constant thefts, followed it and to his great surprise discovered the gravely ill man. After receiving proper care, Roch resumed his journey of apostolate and charity, but the stir caused by his healings led to him being denounced as a spy and imprisoned in his home town. There he died on 16 August 1776, but not before receiving the gift of interceding with God for all plague victims who invoked his name.
As these areas were badly hit by the plague, the invocation of Saint Roch was very dear to the people of the Circeo, so much so that he was named co-patron. His feast is held every year on 16 August with a heartfelt procession from the streets of the historic centre down to the small shrine dedicated to him, which gives its name to the whole area. The case, now less than 30 cm high, was once more than twice as large; it was probably reduced when the road was widened. In the memories of the elderly, the place is also linked to a centuries-old elm that stood right beside it.
