San Domenico, Narni, Romanesque church in Narni, Italy
San Domenico is a Romanesque church building in Narni featuring a three-nave structure separated by broad columns. The interior walls are covered with frescoes from different periods and artists, creating a layered visual record spanning centuries.
The building was first built as the cathedral of the Assumption of Mary and passed to the Dominican order in 1304, when it was renamed. This transfer marked a turning point in how the place was used and decorated over the following centuries.
The sculpted portal is cut from three stone blocks bearing twelve roundels with busts of the apostles, separated by dense ornament. Below the jambs two blocks carry telamon figures, and between two roundels on the right jamb is a carving of Alexander the Great's ascent to heaven in a vehicle drawn by two griffins lured by bait on lances, a motif taken from the medieval Roman d'Alexandre.
The church is located in central Narni on Via Mazzini and is easy to reach on foot. Keep in mind that the interior has steps and uneven surfaces, and the light is kept low to protect the old frescoes.
The Chapel of the Rosary holds frescoes showing scenes from the Book of Genesis painted by Flemish artists in the late 15th century. This unusual collaboration between Italian patrons and northern European artists reveals the connections that existed between regions at that time.
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