Pieve di San Pietro di Feletto, Romanesque parish church in San Pietro di Feletto, Italy
Pieve di San Pietro di Feletto is a church with a steep gabled facade preceded by a 13th-century portico. Inside, three naves hold frescoes layered from the 12th to the 15th century; the apse basin features a 13th-century Christ Pantocrator between the Virgin and Saint Peter, and the Chapel of San Sebastiano has a cross vault with the hand of Christ at its ribs.
The first nucleus of the church dates to between the 8th and 9th centuries, making it probably the oldest sacred building of the former diocese of Ceneda. The present pieve took shape in the 11th century. Frescoes accumulated until the 16th century, when the church reached its current appearance. On 29 June 1873 an earthquake with its epicentre in the Cansiglio area brought down much of the roof during morning mass, killing 38 worshippers.
The church's name, pieve, refers to a baptismal church with a font, and the baptismal font still stands in the Chapel of San Sebastiano beneath a cross vault. The chapel walls narrate the life and large Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian. Under the 13th-century portico, the Cristo della Domenica shows Christ wounded by work tools, a warning against labouring on holy days.
A visit is best during daylight hours to fully see the wall paintings and architectural details. Guided tours help visitors understand the significance of the artworks and explore the various spaces within the complex.
Under the 13th-century portico, the fresco of the Cristo della Domenica shows Christ bleeding from wounds made by the tools of work arranged around him and joined by strips of blood. It warns against working on the Lord's day and is better preserved here than elsewhere.
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