Along the provincial road that connects Latera to Farnese, the chapel of San Sebastiano is the first stop for travellers crossing the Latera Caldera.
The minutes of the General Council of the Community of Latera, in 1579, defines it as being of jus patronato (i.e. the right of the same Community) and although the date of its foundation is not indicated and remains unknown, considers it very ancient. The church, in the shape of a Greek cross with three chapels dedicated to the Conception of the Blessed Virgin (centre), Saint Luke (left) and Saints Francesco Saverio, Felice Cappuccino, Macario Abate and Isidoro Agricola (right) had a small sacristy as its only annex. The pictorial decoration of the chapel of the Blessed Virgin, created in 1670, is the work of the Sienese painter Francesco Nasini (1611-1695), active in the territory between Tuscany and Upper Latium and depicts the Immaculate Conception, the Holy Trinity, St. Pancras and St. Sebastian. In the chapel on the right the four Holy Confessors are portrayed (Francesco Associo, Felice Cappuccino, Macario Abate and Isidoro Agricola) by an unknown painter. However, we know from some documents that the painting already existed in 1670. Probably the paintings are the result of restoration and renovation carried out after 1638, when the chapel was found to be in ruins. The Community of Latera provided not only for its repair but with the help of a collection by the Laterans, embellished and enlarged it. In 1670, the restored church was inaugurated with the blessing of Bishop Monsignor Domenico Massimi and from that time onwards it still underwent further deterioration and restoration, until the 1995 intervention.
