Monumental complex of San Matteo degli infermi, Medieval architectural complex in Spoleto, Italy.
The monumental complex features a two-story cloister with loggias supported by columns and arches, along with a former church and administrative building. The ensemble combines Romanesque and Gothic elements in its architecture and currently serves as home to a state archive.
Founded in 1227 by the Penitent Friars, the complex initially functioned as a monastery with religious purposes. It gradually transformed into a hospital from the 1500s onward, providing care to the ill until its closure in 1939.
The complex once housed a workshop creating sets and costumes for a major local theater festival. Artisans worked in these spaces to design scenography and stage materials for large-scale performances.
The complex is partially accessible to visitors today, with sections occupied by archives that may have different opening hours. It's best to check beforehand if access requires advance notice or if specific areas have restricted visiting times.
When French forces occupied the area in 1798, they converted the monastery into a military hospital with around one hundred beds for their soldiers. This transformation reveals how the buildings adapted to different needs across centuries.
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