Sant' Angelo (6th century)

This circular temple dedicated to St Michael Archangel is one of the oldest churches in Umbria.  Its circular plan is redolent of Santo Stefano Rotundo, Rome, which was consecrated in 468.  Sant' Angelo probably dates to the time of the Byzantine Duchy of Perugia, which was established in 536.

By 1306, the church was under the jurisdiction of the canons of the Duomo.  

In 1487, the Baglioni family fortified it during their war with the Oddi family.

The Gothic portal (14th century) was brought here from Santa Maria dei Servi in 1540. 

The squat campanile to the left was built in the 18th century.

The church was thoroughly restored in 1948.

Interior

The church comprises two concentric circular spaces separated by a circle of sixteen columns of various materials and dimensions that came from even earlier (presumably pagan) buildings.  The floor plan was originally that of a Greek cross.  The central dome seems to have been rebuilt in brick in the 14th century, when three of the four chapels that formed the arms of the cross were demolished. 

The high altar at the centre of the church is made from an ancient marble slab on a truncated column.

Walk counter-clockwise from the entrance around the outer ring.

SS Agatha, Laurence and Veronica (14th century)

This votive fresco in in the 1st bay.  On the left, St Veronica holds her veil, which bears the imprint of the face of Christ.

Baptistery

This chapel was opened in the 3rd bay in the 14th century.  It contains a fresco (15th century) of the Madonna and Child that is attributed to the Maestro del 1421. 

The figures below of two Dominican saints and SS Laurence and James are by a different painter.

Cappella del Crocifisso

This chapel in the 4th bay is the only survivor of the four chapels that originally articulated a Greek cross.  

Cappella dell’ Angelo

This chapel was built soon after the 14th century re-modelling.  It contains a detached fragment of an interesting fresco depicting St Michael making peace between two warriors.

Copy of the Madonna del Verde

A highly venerated fresco of the Madonna and Child (14th century), which was named for the Madonna’s green dress, was originally on a pilaster in the old Duomo.  It was transferred to canvas in 1466 and moved to another altar in the Duomo.  This altar was demolished in 1849 and the fresco was moved to the 12th bay of Sant’ Angelo.  It moved again to the Museo Capitolare in 1979, and was replaced here by a copy.

The altar in this bay is formed from the inscribed base from a Roman statue that is datable to the era of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-80 AD).  The inscription commemorates Caius Vibius Gallus Proculeianus.

Return to Walk V.