The Church of St. Peter in Albe in the archaeological area of Alba Fucens, Massa d’Albe (province of L’Aquila), was built in the 12th century by Benedictine monks over an Italic temple to Apollo (3rd century BCE) whose ruins can still be seen in the crypt beneath the apse. Over the centuries, it has undergone significant variation and modifications. The parts of the building destroyed by earthquake in 1915 were rebuilt with the graceful Romanesque lines of the Benedictine original during restoration work in 1957.
The design fulcrum of the church is represented by the splendid interior which, despite damage in many areas, still offers a sense of the solemnity of the medieval liturgy. There is a beautiful ambon in 13th century Cosmatesque style, a priceless candelabra for the Easter candle and, at the end of the nave, a stunning iconostasis, Cosmatesque in style, by the Roman master Giovanni di Guido and his assistant Andrea. The four twisted columns, stolen in the past, were recently replaced. San Pietro in Albe is magnificent in its simplicity: the surrounding landscape, the purity of its lines, the vibrant luminosity of the colours inside and the fine chiselling on the stonework all resonate in the visitor’s soul.
Film Commission d'Abruzzo
Centro Regionale Beni Culturali - Sulmona
Phone: + 39 0864 576303
Email: crbc@regione.abruzzo.it
