San Ponziano, Spoleto
View of San Ponziano Church from the Rocca (castle).
View from outside the monastery walls, with the medieval Rocca crowning the hill in the distance.
Romanesque facade and tower of San Ponziano.
Detail of facade with central oculus and sculptures.
Baroque nave, looking east to the raised presbytery.
The crypt, with ancient conical pillars that may be from a hippodrome.
Fresco of the Madonna and Child, left chapel of the crypt, 15th century.
Fresco of the Trinity in the central chapel of the crypt.
Location map and aerial view of San Ponziano. For a larger interactive view, see our Spoleto Map.
Located outside the walls in the Umbrian hill-town of Spoleto, San Ponziano is a 12th-century monastic church dedicated to the patron saint of the city. It has a lovely Romanesque facade and extensive medieval frescoes in the crypt.
What to See
The Romanesque facade is an attractive combination of decorative cornices, a central oculus surrounded by the symbols of the Four Evangelists, and a square portal framed with Cosmatesque mosaics, carved decoration, and another set of medallion sculptures of the Evangelists. A tall, plain campanile is attached to the northwest corner.
The interior is less interesting, as it was fully Baroqued by Giuseppe Valadier in 1788. The three-aisle basilica has five bays, no transept and an elevated presbytery over the crypt. A cabinet behind the altar contains the relics of St. Ponziano, which are carried to the cathedral in procession each January 14. Next to it is a painting of the beheading of the saint.
The main attraction of San Ponziano is the crypt, entered at the end of the left aisle. Things improve even as head in that direction: the corridor leading to the stairs has large Corinthian columns embedded in the wall, a Lombard-era sarcophagus, and a 15th-century terracotta sarcophagus.
The crypt itself is spacious. It has a central row of columns supporting a groin vault, and apsidal chapels along the east side. In the center are two rare conical pillars, which are thought to be posts from a Roman hippodrome. There are also three Early Christian sarcophagi, with inscriptions scraped off, from the cemetery over which the church was built.
The crypt chapels are decorated with colorful frescoes dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, as follows:
Left Chapel
- Madonna with St. Sebastian and Other Saints (fragmentary, 1480s)
- St. Bernardino of Siena and St. Ponziano (1481)
- St. Sebastian and St. Rocco
- Madonna and Child Enthroned by an Umbrian follower of Giotto (15th cent.)
- Madonna and Child (second half of the 15th cent.)
- Madonna and Child (1468)
- St. Ponziano as a young nude holding a banner and symbols of martyrdom
Central Chapel
- Crucifixion (Umbrian artist, 15th century)
- Trinity with Angels and Donors
- St. Girolamo and St. Onofrio (first half of 15th century in a Late Gothic style)
Right Chapel
- traces of preparatory cartoons probably from the 15th century
- Angel with Two Donors, shown kneeling under his outspread wings, by the Master of Fossa
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | San Ponziano; Chiesa di San Ponziano; Church of St. Ponziano; Monastero di San Ponziano |
| Dedicated to: | St. Ponziano |
| Location: | Spoleto, Umbria, Italy |
| Categories: | Churches; Abbeys & Monasteries |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Catholic |
| Status: | active |
| Date: | 12th century |
| Architecture: | Romanesque |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 42.739511° N, 12.74163° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | Via della Basilica San Salvatore, 4, 06049 Spoleto PG, Italy |
| Hours: | Daily 8:30-5:30; if locked during these hours, inquire at the custodian's house (with a flight of outside stairs on the right). |
| Cost: | Free |
| Photography: | Permitted |
Travel Resources
- Spoleto Map - our detailed interactive map of Spoleto, plus hand-picked links to more
- Spoleto Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Spoleto Hostels - reserve budget lodgings with no booking fees
- Spoleto Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town
- Spoleto Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Spoleto tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Personal visit (April 20, 2008).
- Alta Macadam and Ellen Grady, Blue Guide Central Italy with Rome and Florence, 1st ed. (Somerset: Blue Guides Limited, 2008), 555.
- "Chiesa di San Ponziano: Secc. XII-XIII" (Arcidiocesi di Spoleto-Norcia, Le Nostre Chiese 6). Pamplet purchased at the church.
Article last updated: 07/09/2009.
