Santa Maria a Lamula, Medieval church in Montelaterone, Italy
Santa Maria a Lamula is a three-nave church with stone pillars and columns, distinguished by semicircular apses and walls built from trachyte blocks. The structure displays typical medieval building features with clear spatial division and solid construction.
The church originated in the 9th century as a cell of San Salvatore Abbey and was elevated to baptismal church status by Pope Gregory V in 996. This ecclesiastical recognition marked an important development in its significance for the surrounding community.
The interior pillars display ornate capitals decorated with animal figures, representing medieval artistic traditions of the Monte Amiata region.
The church sits at the foot of Montelaterone hill and can be reached via forest paths through chestnut woods. Access comes through the municipality of Arcidosso and offers a quiet walk past natural vegetation.
Local tradition tells of a wooden Madonna statue found by woodcutters and carried by a donkey to the church. The legend says the donkey left permanent footprints at the site.
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