Chiesa di San Claudio

The Church of San Claudio stands outside Spello near Villa Fidelia. Its limestone façade, Romanesque interior and medieval frescoes preserve the character of a church that underwent less later remodelling than many of the town's other religious buildings.

Why it matters

The church connects a medieval religious site with Roman remains beneath it. A document of 1178 records it among the possessions of the Camaldolese abbey of San Silvestro near Collepino.

What to notice

The asymmetrical façade has a rose window, paired windows and a two-tier bell gable with sculpted eagles. Inside, the three naves are divided by columns on one side and heavier pillars on the other. Frescoes associated with Cola di Petruccioli include a cycle of saints, while a Roman sarcophagus lid is incorporated beneath the altar. Excavations have revealed Roman structures below the church.

Context and history

San Claudio passed to the commune of Spello by the late fourteenth century. A fair and a papal indulgence in the 1380s and 1390s brought new activity to the site, and side porticos were added. Earthquakes and later restoration campaigns affected the building, including work after the 1997 earthquake.