Clitunno Tempietto

Description

The Clitunno Tempietto is located in Pissignano, a hamlet of Campello sul Clitunno (PG), on the slope of Colle San Benedetto which dominates the Spoleto Valley. Considered one of the most interesting early-medieval monuments of Umbria and probably dated 7^th-8^th century, it is included in the serial property “Longobards in Italy. Places of the Power (568-774 C.E.)” inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list. It is located in a picturesque position, a place covered with cypress trees at whose foot a spring gushes forth to form a small lake.

The construction, built with Ancient Roman architectural elements, possibly the remnants of a pre-existing sanctuary structure dedicated to Clitumnus (identified with Jupiter), has the form of a small classical temple: it stands on a high podium with a frontal Corinthian colonnade of four columns supporting the entablature which bears an inscription dedicating the church to the "God of the Angels". The interior is accessed by two lateral staircases and has an apse with a complex decoration which combines a relief sculpture (originally with polychrome decoration) and 8^th century frescoes with Christian themes (Christ Pantocrator, St. Peter, St. Paul, Angels with a Jewelled Cross). The small aedicule-tabernacle circumscribed by the apse is made of re-used sculptured elements from the 1^st century C.E.

Position on map