Exterior of San Domenico


Detail from a fresco (late 15th century) by
Benedetto Bonfigli depicting the translation
of the relics of St Herculanus to San Pietro
The detail shows the apse and campanile of S Domenico
Cappella dei Priori

Apse and Apsidal Chapels

The fresco above gives a good impression of the appearance of the church (and particularly of the traceries of the magnificent stained glass window (1411) in the apse) before the surrounding buildings blunted its impact.  The fresco also shows the campanile before it was truncated and deprived of its traceried windows (see below).  The best view of the apse (temporarily shrouded in scaffolding because of the restoration of the stained glass window) now is from Viale San Domenico (just beyond Porta San Girolamo - see Walk IV). 

Facade

The facade seems to have had a central rose window with two smaller circular windows to the sides of it, but these were reduced to their current sad state after the collapse of the nave in 1614.  The huge pilasters to the sides were built as part of the subsequent reconstruction in order to provide reinforcement.  The central portal (1596) survived the collapse. 

The double staircase that now leads up to the church was installed in 1640 but the rest of the facade was never completed.

Right Side of the Church

This distant view shows the reinforcing pilasters that were built along the sides of the church after the collapse of 1614, and the three chapels that were built between them mid-18th century.




This closer view from Via Castellano shows the chapels that survived the collapse of 1614:

  • The Cappella di San Domenico (ca. 1450) was built at the end of the right transept for the Perugian merchant Francesco di Pietro.  It is distinguished by the lovely traceried bifore window and the red and white facing if the wall.

  • The Cappella di San Lorenzo (ca. 1450) is the protruding chapel beyond it, which opens onto the nave.

Left Side of the Church

This distant view shows:

  • the convent buildings around the first cloister;

  • the campanile (see below), which stands in this cloister; and

  • the  reinforcing pilasters that were built along the sides of the church after the collapse of 1614, and the four chapels that were built between them mid-18th century. 

The campanile (1464-1500), which was built by Gasparino di Antonio, was once a fine example of Gothic architecture, as illustrated in the fresco detail above.  It owes it truncated appearance to the fact that it was partially demolished in 1546 to allow a clear field of fire from Rocca Paolina.  Its original traceried windows have also been destroyed.

Convent

The entrance to the left of the church leads to the convent, which is described on the page on the Museo Archeologico. 


Go to the interior of San Domenico.