San Salvatore

The Church of San Salvatore in Spoleto is off the tourist track but it is one of the oldest and most remarkable churches in Italy and well worth seeking out. Dating from the late 4th century, it was built in the style of a Classical pagan temple. Despite some later alternations, its original architecture remains remarkably well-preserved today.

San Salvatore is located in eastern Spoleto outside the city walls overlooking a large monumental cemetery. Fresh flowers are often sold to mourners at a stand along Via della Basilica San Salvatore. The walk from town also passes the church of San Ponziano, a medieval church well worth a visit.

Like most of the church, the west facade of San Salvatore dates from the late 4th or early 5th century. The top has three open windows in the style of Classical aedicules, as well as some of the marble panelling (with interesting Oriental motifs) that once covered the entire upper facade. The bottom has three square portals topped with delicate Classical-style reliefs of a central cross flanked by flowers and vines. There was probably originally a portico over the doors.

The mostly-empty interior has an air of venerable antiquity. The arches on the sides of the nave have been filled in with masonry, with small doors cut out for exploring the aisles. The Doric columns of the nave can still be seen among the masonry.

The presbytery is even more impressive. Here, 16 huge columns support a Doric entablature, looking very much like a pagan temple. Most of the capitals are Corinthian, but there are a few in the Ionic and Doric orders as well. The fine masonry dome over the presbytery, probably heightened in the 17th century, has acanthus-leaf capitals at the four corners.

The small apse at the east end is decorated with fresco fragments of various dates. The square niche in the east wall has a rare fresco of a cross with gems hanging from the arms, dated to the 8th century. The two square chapels on either side of the apse are former sacristies. They contain more fragments of frescoes, including the Holy Father and Madonna and Saints (1478) by a follower of Benozzo Gozzoli in the right chapel.