Santa Maria Impensole (10th century)
There are in fact three structures here, one on top of the other:
- the present church, which is described as “Sancta Maria in Pisile” in a donation made in 1100 to the Abbazia di Farfa;
an earlier church (8th or 9th century) that now forms its crypt; and
a Roman domus.
The Upper Church
The name of the church derives from the Latin word “pensilis”, which means hanging. There are at least two explanations offered for this description of the upper church:
before the street level was raised, it could be seen hanging above the lower church; or
it has a pensile (hanging) apse, visible from Vicola delle Torri.
The façade of the upper church, which stands behind the portico of three arches, has three carved portals: the inscription above the central portal includes the date 1175.
The interior was restored in 2002. Two colonnades divide it into a nave and two aisles.
The 3rd column on the right has an interesting capital which has a
relief of a man (presumably a Christian martyr) attacked by bears.
Frescoes in the Upper Church
Madonna and Child (ca. 1400)
Two frescoes of the Madonna and Child in the right aisle, which were brought to light in the recent restoration of the church, are attributed to the Maestro di Narni del 1409.
Madonna and Child with SS Peter Martyr and Ansanus (early 15th century) 
This fresco fragment, which is in a niche low down in the right aisle, is by a follower of the Maestro di Narni del 1409. Unfortunately, the faces of the Virgin and St Peter Martyr have been destroyed.
Lower Church
The lower church is reached from a door in the external right wall of the church. If it is locked, a visit can be arranged by Narni Sotterranea. The presbytery of the lower church, which forms the foundations of that of the upper church, is to the right of the entrance. Two colonades separate the rest of the space into a nave and two aisles.
Two Roman cisterns (1st century BC) can be seen under the floor at the far end.
Return to the walk.