S. Claudio al Chienti, Romanesque church in Corridonia, Italy.
San Claudio al Chienti is a Romanesque church in Corridonia featuring a Greek cross plan inscribed within a square. Two superimposed halls with matching floor plans are connected by a staircase leading to an Istrian stone portal, and the facade includes two cylindrical towers flanking the entrance.
The building dates from the 11th century and stands on the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Pausolae near the Chienti River. This location shows the continuity between Roman times and medieval use of the site.
The lower church displays Gothic frescoes from the 1400s showing Saint Roch and Saint Claudius holding masonry tools. These paintings reflect the local devotion to these saints and their connection to craftsmanship.
Access to the building is via a staircase leading to the main portal on the western side. Visitors should note that the two stacked church halls create an unusual layout, and lighting in the lower areas may be limited.
Researchers connect the architectural design to the palatine chapel of Charlemagne's imperial palace in Aachen through Nordic western influences. This surprising connection shows how political and religious ideas traveled across long distances.
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