Perugia - Walk VI
Detour II
To Santa Maria di Monteluce via San Bevignate and the Cemetery |
View of Santa Maria di Monteluce
from Via XIV Settembre
This is a relatively long detour along a busy road, but it is worth considering if the day is fine, particularly if you would like to see the excellent funerary sculptures in the cemetery. (You can shorten the detour by taking the bus to the cemetery from the Piazza dei Partigiani). Unfortunately, San Bevignate is only open for concerts or by prior arrangement.
The detour begins at what was Porta del Carmine, which is now the entrance to the underpass of Via XIV Settembre. Walk through the underpass and continue along Via Enrico dal Pozzo, which traverses the area known as Fontenuovo.
The suburb is named for a local fountain (see below).
The road is named for the scientist Enrico dal Pozzo (died 1892) who owned the large house on the right (number 59 - 93) that is now the Residenza di Ospitalità per Anziani di Fontenuovo. Pope Leo XIII arranged for the purchase of this property in 1885 and established an old people's home under the care of a French religious community, the Piccole Suore dei Poveri.
The ex-church of San Crispino is opposite, at number 88 on the left.
San Crispino (1340) This small church, with its Gothic façade of red and white marble, belonged to the Compagna dei Calzolari (the shoemakers’ guild). The adjoining hospice, which was built in the 15th century, was combined with that of the Ospedale di Santa Maria della Misercordia in 1737 and remained was used as a mental hospital until 1823. It was subsequently destroyed by subsidence. |
Casa di Ranaldus Ridolfinus (16th century) The inscription of the portal records that this house belonged to the jurist Rinaldo Ridolfino (died 1591). However, the portal itself seems to have been rebuilt in ca. 1700. The house belonged to the Sforza Paolucci and then the Bigazzini families in the 17th century. |
The medieval fountain that gave its name to this area is further along on the left.
Fontenuovo According to tradition, St Francis
used this fountain in the 13th century as he passed through Perugia.
However, the earliest surviving documentary reference to it dates to
1494. A small church known as the Chiesuola di Buon Riposa that was built nearby in his honour was demolished in 1850. |
Santa Maria della Pace (1571-3) This was originally the site of Benedictine nunnery of Santa Cecilia (1279) that had been abandoned by the 16th century. In 1570, Cardinal Fulvio della Corgna gave the site to the Capuchins, who were already established at Montemalbe,
outside the city. The new foundation became known as the “Luogo Nuovo”
(new place), to distinguish it from the original settlement. The
Capuchins built a new church, which they dedicated in honour of the
peace that followed the papal victory against the Turks at the Battle
of Lepanto (1571). |
Further along on the right, at number 101, is the Porta del Lione (1567), which is attributed to Galeazzo Alessi and might have formed the entrance to his own suburban villa. The portal takes its name from the sculpted lion that rests somewhat precariously above it. [This lion possibly came from a nearby Roman mausoleum, traces of which can still be seen ??]
The Benedictine nunnery of San Bernardo stood across the road here from at least 1326 until 1399, the year it was absorbed by Santa Margherita. The road then continues to San Bevignate on the right and the Cimitero Civico (cemetery) a little further along on the left.
Cimitero Civico (1849) Bishop Gioacchino Pecci established the civic cemetery here in 1849. It was extended in the period 1874-86, and its elegant portal belongs to this period. The hypogeum (2nd - 1st centuries BC) of the Rafi family was discovered cut into the rock here in 1887. It contained 36 cinerary urns, many of which are now displayed in the Museo Archeologico. |
Walk along the main path through the cemetery to the monument to the fallen and turn right. You will see the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in front of you, and can reach it via a pedestrian bridge over the Via Enrico dal Pozzo.
Santa Maria delle Grazie di Monterone (1534) The legend of St Florentius has him buried in a church dedicated to the Virgin, and local tradition identifies this as the ancient church of Santa Maria di Monterone. This church was characterised as dependent upon San Fiorenzo a bull of Pope Eugenius III of 1145. The relics of St Florentius were translated at some point from Santa Maria di Monterone to San Fiorenzo, presumably for greater safety. The church remained in the possession of the Camaldolesian Abbazia di San Salvatore di Monte Acuto after 1403, when San Fiorenzo was transferred to the Cistercians. It was listed among the possessions of San Salvatore in 1495. Pope Hadrian VI transferred the church to the Servites in 1523 and Fra Giordano Tassi rebuilt it in 1534. An inscription on the façade records that Pope Paul III granted a perpetual indulgence in 1535 to those attending the church on certain feast days. The venerated fresco (14th century) of the Madonna and Child that was installed above the high altar probably came from a wayside tabernacle. |
Retrace your steps through the cemetery and walk back along Via Enrico dal Pozzo. Turn right into Via Giochetto. After the roundabout, at number 5, is the ex-nunnery of San Paolo di Favarone.
San Paolo di Favarone (13th century) A private oratory here, which was documented in 1264, belonged to a community of female penitents in 1317. From 1329, they followed the rule of the Poor Clares. This community was absorbed into Santa Maria di Monteluce in 1451. From 1790, the complex was used as a summer school attached to the seminary. It now privately owned. |
The road continues to the Piazza Monteluce, where you can resume Walk VI.