Chiesa di San Jacopo al Tempio, Medieval church in San Gimignano, Italy
Chiesa di San Jacopo al Tempio is a church building in San Gimignano with a rectangular nave lacking an apse, covered by a vault and divided into five interior sections. The structure retains both its original form and evidence of the different religious uses it has served throughout its centuries.
The building was founded in 1239 and initially served as a Templar command post until 1311, when it passed to the Jerusalem Order. The facility maintained its religious importance through 1356 under its new overseers.
The church displays a distinctive blend of travertine blocks and patterned brickwork that creates its medieval appearance, while the rounded portal and decorated rose window reveal the craftsmanship invested in its facade.
The site sits within the medieval town center and is easily reached on foot from the main squares. Visitors should be prepared for uneven paving and narrow lanes that lead to the entrance.
In 1657, the nuns from the San Girolamo convent received permission to build an overhead passageway that directly connected their monastery to the church. This bridge reflects the close bond between the two institutions and how monastic communities adapted their spaces for daily needs.
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