Chiesa di San Donato

San Donato stands on Civita di Bagnoregio's central square. The former cathedral combines a Romanesque body with a Renaissance facade, preserving an architectural focus of the village's religious and civic history.

Why it matters

The church served as the cathedral before that role passed to San Nicola in Bagnoregio following the earthquake of 1695. This transfer reflects the wider effects of seismic damage and the changing relationship between Civita and the neighbouring town.

What to notice

A wooden crucifix traditionally associated with the school of Donatello is a principal devotional work. Its expressive carving is linked to a local interpretation of Christ's appearance from different angles. Two ancient sarcophagi incorporated into the bell tower provide another layer of history, contrasting with the Christian building that reused them. The Renaissance facade gives the square a formal architectural front.

Context and history

The church has early origins, but its visible fabric results from successive medieval and later campaigns. Its cathedral role made it a central institution of the old settlement. After the earthquake and the transfer of episcopal functions, San Donato retained its place as the church of Civita's main piazza, alongside the former civic buildings.