San Flaviano, Montefiascone, Romanesque minor basilica near Via Francigena, Montefiascone, Italy
San Flaviano is a Romanesque basilica in Montefiascone featuring a stone facade with three arches of varying size topped by a Renaissance loggia. The structure contains two distinct levels, with the lower church divided into three naves separated by columns decorated with animal and plant carvings.
The lower church was constructed in the eleventh century atop earlier structures and dedicated to Flaviano, an early Byzantine martyr from Rome. This dedication demonstrates the spread of veneration for Eastern Christian saints throughout this Italian region.
The walls display medieval frescoes showing a twelfth-century Christ Pantocrator with Saint Flaviano depicted as a mounted warrior below. These images reflect the local religious traditions and artistic practices of the period.
Visitors can access both levels of the church and explore the decorated lower section with its columns and architectural elements. The site is open for exploration, though visitors should be prepared for narrow spaces between the supporting columns.
The crypt holds the tomb of Johannes Fugger, whose inscription references the local wine that prompted his extended stay in Montefiascone. This connection between a wealthy visitor and regional wine reveals how the area attracted merchants from distant places.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
