Chiesa di San Pietro Extra Moenia

The Church of San Pietro Extra Moenia stands beyond Spoleto's historic walls, beside the ancient Flaminia road. Its Romanesque façade is covered with carved stone panels, while the interior reflects later rebuilding and decoration.

Why it matters

The site was associated with a sanctuary of Saint Peter from the early fifth century. The church's present Romanesque form, built in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, preserves one of Umbria's significant medieval façades.

What to notice

The façade's upper register includes statues of Saints Peter and Andrew, rose windows and panels filled with narrative reliefs. Among the subjects are fables about a fox, a lion and a dragon. The central portal, whose reliefs show later Gothic influence, dates to the late thirteenth century.

Context and history

The church was rebuilt after a fire in the medieval period, with work beginning in 1329. Later remodelling gave the interior a three-aisled form, while the façade remained largely untouched. The interior includes a baptismal font dated 1487 and fresco fragments from around 1500.