Tempietto di San Bonaventura (Bagnoregio)

The Tempietto di San Bonaventura in Bagnoregio is a small votive church associated with the town's devotion to Giovanni Fidanza, who became Saint Bonaventure.

Why it matters

The shrine commemorates Bonaventure's connection with Bagnoregio and preserves a local tradition of devotion to the Franciscan theologian. Its modest scale and long association with a lay brotherhood distinguish it from the town's larger churches.

What to notice

The interior centres on devotional images of the Madonna del Popolo and the Sacred Heart of Jesus with Saint Bonaventure. The building is a compact nineteenth-century reconstruction whose significance lies in its continuing devotional associations as well as its architecture.

Context and history

The church was originally dedicated to Sant'Angelo. In 1632 it was acquired by the Venerabile Compagnia di San Bonaventura and became associated with the saint. After the earlier structure fell into disrepair, a new design by Pietro Gagliardi was adopted in 1856. A relic of Bonaventure is preserved in Bagnoregio's cathedral.