Arco di San Pietro

The Arch of San Pietro is the bell tower of Isernia's cathedral, built above a passage that carries Corso Marcelli through its base. Four Roman statues set into the structure connect the medieval tower with the ancient city.

Why it matters

The tower's unusual position makes it both a cathedral structure and a landmark within Isernia's street plan. Its lower storey is generally dated to the fourteenth century and stands on an older base, while the Roman statues reflect the reuse of material from ancient Aesernia.

What to notice

The pointed arch opens beneath a square, four-tiered tower. At its corners, four togate figures recovered from the Roman forum area look out over the street. The tower's clock crowns the structure, whose medieval masonry rises above the passage between the cathedral and the former church of San Paolo.

Context and history

The present tower was likely built after the earthquake of 1349 and restored by Bishop Giacomo Montaquila in 1456. Its ninth-century base is older than the pointed arch above it. The structure also served the churches on both sides of Corso Marcelli, giving it a civic function in addition to its role as the cathedral bell tower.