San Pietro extra moenia, Spoleto, Romanesque church building at southern entrance, Spoleto, Italy
San Pietro extra moenia is a Romanesque church at the southern entrance of Spoleto featuring three aisles separated by columns with round arches connecting to side chapels. Each chapel contains decorative altars integrated into the overall design of the interior space.
The original sanctuary was built in the 5th century to house the chains of Saint Peter, while the building we see today dates from the 12th to 13th centuries. This medieval reconstruction replaced the earlier structure with the Romanesque style.
The facade shows detailed carvings with scenes from Saint Peter's life and medieval fables that taught moral lessons to people who could not read. These stories remain visible today as windows into how the community understood faith and virtue.
Visitors reach the church by climbing a large 17th-century staircase leading to three entrance doors flanked by stone animal sculptures. The interior has uneven floor levels reflecting its long construction history, so take care when moving between different sections.
The interior holds numerous ancient tombstones from the 7th century, when the site served as a burial ground for bishops of Spoleto. These rare burial markers offer glimpses into the lives of the city's early religious leaders.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
