Badia di Sant'Arcangelo, Medieval abbey in Magione, Italy
Badia di Sant'Arcangelo is an abbey in Magione with an L-shaped layout that features round towers, a bell tower, and multiple overlapping loggias surrounding a central courtyard. The structure shows a blend of monastic and fortified architecture with carefully designed elements throughout.
The site was founded in the 12th century by the Knights Templar as a monastic community. Later, the Knights of Malta took control and transformed it into a fortified complex with strengthened defensive features.
The chapel inside shows frescoes from the 16th century painted in the style of Pinturicchio, with scenes of religious subjects covering the walls. These paintings reveal the artistic richness that developed during the time of the Knights of Malta.
The location sits at roughly 300 meters in elevation, about 15 kilometers west of Perugia and overlooking Lake Trasimeno. Its hilltop position offers wide views across the surrounding landscape and helps with orientation in the region.
A cardinal named Marco Barbo reshaped the complex in 1471 by adding two towers with battlements and designing a colonnaded courtyard. This transformation turned the former abbey into a Renaissance residence with military features.
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