Roch of Montpellier is one of the most venerated saints in the whole history of Church, still his life is almost completely clouded by legend; however the charm of this extraordinary man has survived intact through the centuries, whatever his devotees’ personal ideas and ethical choices may be.
In this section you will find a brief essay illustrating the existing historical studies about Saint Roch’s life, written by dr. Paolo Ascagni, director of our Committee, and by professor Pierre Bolle, the most learned expert of this subject in the world; you will also find the vast «Historical-biographical cards» about the Saint, compiled by the director of our Committee, but not yet translated in English; and a selection of images illustrating popular devotion for the Saint.

> click here to learn!

The immense popularity and the vast devotion that has been accompanying along the centuries the figure of  Roch of Montpellier could not but originate artistic productions of all kinds, from painting to sculpture, from architecture to handicraft. In each historical era and in each geographical area, the results have often been of the highest level; after all the artists that have turned in images the thousand aspects if Saint Roch’s life and legend are among the greatest and most genial of all times. 


> click here to learn!

Being obvious that unfortunately we cannot follow the immense itinerary of the Saint through the thousands of towns that remember him, we have been forced to focus mainly on the so-called «cities of Saint Roch»: the ones that have hosted the most important episodes of the Saint’s life and legend. These are Montpellier (where he was born), Acquapendente (where the Saint made a halt on his way to Rome), Caorso (the crossing towards Piacenza), Piacenza (the plague’s contagion), Sarmato (the meeting with Gottardo and the dog), Voghera (the Saint’s death), Venice (the relics and the “explosion” of his cult).
Still we have a section dedicated to the many other places connected with the Saint’s figure and cult, that will be updated from time to time.

> click here to learn!