San Vittore alle Chiuse, Benedictine abbey church in Genga, Italy

San Vittore alle Chiuse is a Romanesque abbey church in the comune of Genga, built of pale limestone. Its Greek cross plan is inscribed in a nearly square perimeter, with four columns dividing the interior into nine bays; the central bay carries a dome on an octagonal drum. Five semicircular apses line the perimeter, and the facade is flanked by a low cylindrical tower and a tall square tower.

The abbey was founded around the year 1000 and quickly became an important religious center in the region. By the middle of the 13th century, it governed around 42 churches and substantial lands, reflecting its power and influence at that time.

The name alle Chiuse refers to the river locks near the confluence of the Sentino and Esino. Inside, look for an incised mark by the door left of the altar, read as a vertical figure eight or infinity symbol; its purpose is unknown. The abbey was declared a national monument in 1902.

The building sits in a gorge next to the Frasassi Caves and an ancient Roman bridge that crosses the Sentino River. Access is straightforward if coming from Genga, and you can visit both sites in a single day.

Near the door to the left of the altar, an engraving on the stone shows a vertical figure eight, or infinity symbol; its purpose and meaning are unknown. The interior is otherwise bare, with pale rough-hewn walls and a barrel vault.