SS. Giovanni e Paolo, Former Romanesque church in Spoleto, Italy
SS. Giovanni e Paolo is a former Romanesque church in Spoleto featuring a simple stone facade, a circular rose window, and a narrow entrance doorway topped with a decorated lunette. The structure combines Romanesque design with reused Roman-era materials integrated into its walls.
The church was built in 1174 and rests on earlier religious foundations from older periods. This layering shows how sacred sites in Spoleto were repeatedly rebuilt and renewed across generations.
The interior walls display frescoes from multiple centuries, including a rare depiction of Thomas Becket's martyrdom. These images reveal how religious devotion and artistic styles evolved across different periods.
The building is located in Via Filitteria within the former Byzantine quarter of medieval Spoleto. When visiting, expect narrow medieval streets and plan to check current access conditions before your arrival.
A fresco depicting the Martyrdom of Saints John and Paul was removed from this building and now resides in the National Museum at Villa Albornoziana. This relocation shows how fragile artworks are moved to protect them from damage.
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